o K6USJLMEWBJ THE FIEST AND SECOND BATTLES OF NEWBURY AND THE SIEGE OF DOW:ffmGTOi^ CASTLE DUEING THE CIVIL WAE, A.D. 1643-6. BY WALTER MONEY, F.S.A., M Local Secretary op the Society of Antiquaries, for Berkshire. Hon. Sec. of the Newbury District Field Club, &c. SECOND EDITION. ^UM$tvateJ» witij ^ovtvaii^, ^iatte, axxh ^xew&* LONDON : SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO., STATIONERS' HALL COURT. NEWBURY: W. J. BLACKET, NORTHBROOK STREET. MDCCCLXXXIV. T)J\4I5 Entered at Stationers' Hall. All Rights Reserved. TO THE EARL OF CARNARYOI^, D.C.L., F.K.S. President of the Royal Society op Antiquaries, etc., etc., etc. Cljts f fllunu is Jebitateb, As A Tribute of sincere respect for his Encouragement op Historical and Antiquarian Study. 785523 PREFACE. The First Edition of this Book, published in 1881, having met with a favourable reception, and being now out of print, I have been induced to bring out a Second Edition. In doing so, an endeavour has been made to render the eventful story of the two Battles of Newbury, and the Siege of Donnington Castle, more worthy of public acceptance by a considerable enlargement of the general subject, and by the insertion of additional plans illustrative of some of the more interesting local incidents which are described in this work. The Civil Wars of the Seventeenth Century will always have a peculiar attraction for all classes of Englishmen, and local associations connected with this important epoch in our national history are deeply interesting to those who reside in the particular locality where many of the more prominent events relating to that stirring period occurred. Especially is this the case in places which have been the Battle-fields of the contending armies, and where our gallant forefathers, both Cavalier and Roundhead, acquired distinction and fame which will live in the pages of history to the end of time. It has been remarked that no periods of history are so intricate, or so difficult to relate with clearness, as those of Civil War; and in attempting to construct, out of a mass of conflicting evidence, an intelligible narrative of the important historical incidents of the great struggle with which the town of Newbury and its surroundings must ever be associated, I feel conscious of many deficiencies, and that I have good reasons to appeal to the kind indulgence of my readers for the inadequate performance of a task which has so long and pleasantly occupied my leisure hours. But if I have succeeded in removing some of the obscurity and confusion which has hitherto existed respecting these civil dissensions, and rendered them not only intelligible, but interesting, my labours will be fully rewarded. In concluding my undertaking, I desire to express my acknowledge- ments to all those persons who were good enough to give their support vi PREFACE. to the work on its first publication ; and to other friends who have encouraged me in these researches. Lastly, but none the less grate- fully, I have to express my thanks to Professor T. Rupert Jones, F.R.S. , late of the Staff College, Sandhurst; Major C. Cooper King, R.M.A., Profesaor of Tactics, Administration, &c., Royal IMilitary College, Sandhurst ; and to Professor Montagu Burrows, Chichele Professor of Modem History in the University of Oxford ; who have afforded me most kind and ready assistance. WALTER MONEY, F.S.A. Newbury^ Aprils 1884. ERRATA ET CORRIGENDA. Page 5, 16th line from top, for he directly ascribed read be directly ascribed. — 52, 24th line from top, for or read of. — 61, Colonel Fielding. The name of this Royalist occurs in the list of the wounded at the first battle of Newbury. It has since been ascertained that this officer was Colonel Edward Fielding of Newnham-Paddox, co. Warwick. He died of his wounds at Oxford, shortly after the battle, and / was buried in St. Mary's Church in that City. The inscription on his monument is given by Hearne in the Appendix to the Liber Niger Scaccarii, vol. ii, p. 582. — 102, Bernard Brocas, 12th line from bottom, for 800 read 500. — 103, 2nd line from top, omit Robert to the end of the sentence. 7th line from top, omit the said. 16th line from top, omit killed at Worcester ; and after in insert a branch of. — 113, Protestations. These returns were made pursuant to an Order of the House of Commons of the 30th July, 1641, and are dated for the most part February, or March, 1641-2. — 115, Little ShefEord, for John Prime, rector, read John Prince, rector. — 253, 28th line from top substitute u for n in subsequently. 29th line from top substitute c for e in actions. — 270, The John Chamberlayne who sold Donnington Castle to Mr. John Packer belonged to the family of Chamber- layne, of Sherborne or Shirbourne Castle, co. Oxon. He was son of Bryan Chamberlayne of Newbury, a person of some note in his time ; and was Mayor of Newbury in 1601. Add. MS., 4961, fo. 38 ; C. 18, CoU. Arm. fo. 114. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE Dedication . . . . . . . . . . iii Preface . . . . . . . . . . v Errata et Corrigenda . , . . . , . . vii Table of Contents . . . . . . . . viii List of Plans and Illustrations . . . . . . xii The First Battle of Newbury, September 20th, 1643 . . 1 Appendix. I. A list of those Eegiments of Trained Bands and Auxi- liaries of the City of London which were engaged at the First Battle of Newbury . . . . . . . . 77 II. The Attack on Essex's Eear the day after the First Battle of Newbury . . . . . . . . 80 III. The presence of Queen Henrietta Maria at the Battle (disproved) . . . . . . . . 82 IV. A case of Witch -murder at Newbury . . 84 V. The discovery of the Coffin and Remains of the Vault of Eobert Devereux, third Earl of Essex, in the Chapel of St. John the Baptist in Westminster Abbey, June 1879 . . 86 VI. Biographical Notices of Officers and others men- tioned in connection with the First Battle of Newbury — § 1. Eoyalist Officers. PAGE PAGE Patrick Euthven, Earl of Forth 88 Sir Thomas Aston . . 101 Prince Eupert 89 Sir Anthony Mansel 101 Sir John Byron 89 Sir Edward Stradling 101 Lord Wilmot 89 Sir Michael Wodehouse . . 101 Earl of Carnarvon 89 Sir Jacob Astley . . 101 Earl of Sunderland 91 Sir John Frechville 101 Lord Falkland 92 Sir John Hurry 101 Earl of Lindsey 95 Bernard Brocas (see also List Earl of Northampton 95 of Corrigenda) . . vii 102 Earl of Nottingham 96 Col. St. John 103 Earl of Cleveland 96 Col Edward Villiers 103 Earl of Holland . . 96 Col. WiU. Legge 103 Earl of Bedford 97 Col. Eichard 103 Earl of Clare 97 Col. Daniel O'NeiU 104 Earl of Cra^vford 97 Col. Morgan 104 John, Lord Belasyse 97 Col. Thomas Eure 104 George, Lord Digby 98 Col. Eichard Piatt . . 104 Lord Jermyn 98 Col. Charles Gerard 104 Lord Percy . . 98 Col. Thomas Eawdon 105 Lord Chandos 98 Col. Pinchbeck 105 Lord MoUneux 99 Col. Edward Fielding vii. and 61 Hon. Henry Bertie 99 Capt. Thomas Bagehot 105 Sir Charles Lucas 99 Capt. BasU Woodd 105 Sir George Lisle 100 Capt. Clifton 106 Sir Edward Waldegrave . . 100 Capt. Newman 106 Sir Lewis Kirke 100 George Porter 106 Sir William Vavasour 101 Capt. Gwynne 106 TABLE OF CONTENTS. IX § 2. Parliamentarian OfScers and others. PAGE Earl of Essex . . 106 Lord Eobartes or Roberts 107 Lord Grey of Groby . . 107 Sir John Meyrick . . 107 Sir Philip Stapletou 107 Sir William Constable . . 107 Sir William Brooke 107 Sir Wniiam Balfour . . 108 Sir Samuel Luke . . 108 Major- General Skippon . . 108 Major- General Deane 109 Lieut. -General Middleton 109 Col. Arthur Goodwin . . 109 Col. Edward Massey, (or Massie) Col. Sheffield Col. John Meldrum Col. Norton Col. Dalbier . . Capt. Hunt CaiDt. Francis St.-Barbe . . Capt. Hammond Capt. Charles Fleetwood Capt. Charles Pym William Twisse, D.D. . . Robert Codiington . . PAGE Brimpton Parish 113 Chaddleworth 113 Chieveley 113 Compton 113 Enborne 113 Frilsham 111 Greenham (a Tything of Thatcham) 114 Hamstead Marshall 111 Hamstead Norris . , 114 West Ilsley . . 114 East Ilsley 114 VII. Extracts from the Certificates of Returns of those Persons, who, pursuant to the Order of the House of Commons, made the Protestation in the County of Berks, 30th July, 1641— Inkpen Kintbury Leckhamstead Midgham Newbury Peaseinore Shaw-cum-Donnington . Little Shefford Great Shefford Speen , . Wasing WeKord Winterborne Danvers VIII. List of the Sequestrators of the Estates of "Delin- quents, Papists, Spyes, and Intelligencers," for the County of Berks, appointed under Ordinance of the Lords and Commons, April 1, 1643 — PAGE Sir Francis Pile . . 116 Sir Francis KnoUys, junior 116 Peregrine Hoby . . 116 Heiiiy Marten . . 116 IX. — The Commissioners for raising Money and Forces within the County of Berks, and for Maintenance of Gar- risons within the said County for use of Parliament, appointed June 27, 1644 — PAGE WilUam Lenthall . . 118 Sir Robert Pye . . 118 Sir Benjamin Rudyerd . . 118 Edmund Dunch . . 119 Roger Knight Henry Powle Thomas Fettiplace Tanfield Vachell , PAGE 109 110 110 110 110 111 111 111 111 111 111 112 114 114 114 114 114 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 117 117 117 117 Daniel Blagrave Richard Browne John Packer . . Robert Packer Cornelius Holland X. Ship Monej" . . XI. State of Public Feeling in the County in 1643 XII. Agreement between Charles I. and the County of Berks respecting a Contribution to be levied for the support of the King's Army 120 120 121 121 121 121 123 125 X TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE The Second Battle at Newbury, October 27th, 1644 . . 128 Appendix. I. The King's Marcli to Newbury .. .. 213 II. The King's Stay at Newbury .. .. 215 III. Red Heath and Eed HiU .. .. ..217 IV. Descriptive Accounts of the Second Battle of Newbury . . ■ . • ■ • • . . 219 V. Newbury Church as a Prison and Hospital . . 224 VI. Boxford .. .. .. ..224 VII. Bucklebury .. .. .. 225 VIII. License of War . . . . . . 226 IX. Capture of Lady Forth, Countess of Brentford 231 X. Captain Knight's Eelation of the Siege of Donning- ton Castle . . . . . . . . 234 XI. Major Ryves' Letter relating to the Siege of Don- nington Castle . . . . . . . . 241 XII Dismantling of Donnington Castle . . 243 XIII. Depositions of Witnesses at the Trial of King Charles 1., as to the presence of the King at the Two Battles of Newbury . . . . . . . . . . 245 XIV. Letter from the Earl of Manchester to the House of Lords, giving an opinion on the conduct of Oliver Cromwell 246 XV. Biographical Notices of some of the Officers and others mentioned in connection mth the Second Battle of Newbury § 1. Royalist Officers. Prince Maurice Duke of Richmond Lord Bernard Stuart Earl of Newport Earl of Berkshire Earl Rivers Lord Capel Lord Hopton Lord Colej)eper Lord Goring Sir John Boys Sir Bernard Astley Sir John Cansfielcl Sir William Brouncker Sir William St. Leger Sir John Owen § 2. Parliamentar Earl of Manchester Sir WilHam Waller Sir Arthur Hesilrige Major- General Crawford Lieut. -General Middleton Lieut. -General Ludlow PAGE Sir Thomas Hooper 248 Sir Richard Page . . 248 Sir Richard Lane 249 Sir Thomas Basset, or Bassett 249 Sir Humj)hrey Benett 249 Sir John Granville . . 249 Sir Joseph WagstafEe . . . . 249 Sir Charles Llovd .. 250 Sir Edward AValker 250 Col. WiUiam Ashburnham 251 Col. Leke 251 Col. Anthony Thelwall 252 Col. Giles Strangways 252 Col. Hoghton 253 Captain Catelyn 253 Robert Stradling . . 253 Captain Sjmionds ian Officers, PAGE Col. Richard Norton 256 Lieut. -Col. Wliite .. 256 Col. Sir Richard Ingoldsby 256 Col. John Birch . . 257 Captain Mason 257 Capt. Richard Wolfall 257 Capt. Thomas Wliittingham the Manor and Castle of XVI, Historical Notices of Donnington XVII. Description of Donnington Castle Index 253 253 253 253 253 253 253 254 254 254 254 254 254 254 255 255 255 257 258 258 258 258 259 259 259 272 278 LIST OF THE PLANS AND ILLUSTEATIONS. 1 View of Donnington Castle (Frontispiece) Opposite Title-page. 2 Portrait op the Earl of Essex Opposite Page 86 3 Plate op Arms axd Armour 4 Plan of the First Battle op Newbury 5 Plan of the Defences op Donnington Castle 6 View of Shaw House .• ,. 7 Plan of the King's Army before Newbury 8 Portrait of Sir John Boys ., •• 9 Plan of the Second Battle op Newbury 10 Plan of the last Skirmish at Donnington Castle 64 76 134 152 186 208 212 242 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBUEY. CHAPTER I. INTEODUCTOEY. In order to understand the political situation of the precise period of English. History under review, a brief description, first, of the events which preceded the actual outbreak of hostilities and, then, of the previous operations of the hostile armies which eventually met at Newbuiy, may be acceptable. At the same time the means will be provided of rightly estimating the value and effect of the engagements fought at that place, on the fortunes of the two Parties. The causes which led to the Grreat Civil War between the King and Parliament, in which the Battles round Newbury occupied a prominent position, were probably not of sudden occurrence, nor entirely due to the errors of the Stuart Dynasty. There had been a great increase in the extent and power of public feeling since Elizabeth's reign. The independence and political importance of the Middle Class had increased with extended trade and with its natural conse- quence, accumulation of wealth. A reasonable desire to obtain and to secure the full freedom of the subject had been surely and steadily growing the opposition to feudal government had followed as a matter of course. This desire was moreover strongly tinged with religious sentiment. "It was," to use the words of M. Gluizot, an eminent .writer on this subject, "the fortune of England in the seventeenth century to be governed by the spirit of religious faith as well as by the spirit of political liberty, and to enter upon the two revolutions at the same time. All the great passions of human nature were thus brought into duly controlled activity ; and the hopes and aspirations of eternity remained to men even when they beheld the failui'e of all their earthly ambitions and hopes. "The English Eeformers, especially those whose object was 2 THE FIBST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. merely political, did not tkink a revolution necessary. Tlie laws, the traditions, tlie precedents, the whole past annals of their country, were dear and sacred in their eyes ; and they found in them a foundation for their pretensions, as well as the sanction of their ideas. It was in the name of the Grreat Charter, and of the innumerable statutes which had been passed during four centuries in confirmation of it, that they demanded their liberties. For four centuries not a generation of Englishmen had j)assed away without uttering the name and beholding the assemblage of Parliament. The great barons and the people, the country gentlemen and the city burgesses, met together in 1640, not to contend for new acquisitions, but to regain their common inheritance ; they came to repossess themselves of their ancient and positive rights, and not to pursue the infijiite but unknown combina- tions and experiences of the human mind." But with the advent of the House of Stuart had come a retrogressive spirit on the part of Sovereign and Noble ; or, at least what a large section of the EngKsh people considered to be so. James the First had many strong and extravagant convictions as to the divine origin and extent of the regal power. In his reign, however, these convictions merely strengthened ; but when his son ascended the throne, and it was felt, with how much regret on the part of many who opposed him it is unnecessary to say, that he, a firmer man, was not merely more assured than his father of the importance of his kingly trust, but more purposed to fulfil it, the breach between King and People slowly but surely increased, until there was no resource but division and civil war. The struggle between the popular and monarchical principles of the constitution now assumed a definite form, soon to be decided by the terrible arbitrament of the sword. Clarendon assigns the true cause of Charles's haughty refusal of all concessions to the influence of the Queen, Henrietta Maria, to whom must undoubtedly be imputed many of the misfortunes which attended the life of the luckless King. This fascinating and beautiful woman, says the same historian, had obtained, by degrees, a pleni- tude of power over her husband, which, almost absolute, did much to precipitate the inevitable conflict. His history- afltords abundant proof of this. Unhappily too, the King with exalted notions of his prerogative, had taken it into his head that the nation might be governed without Parliaments ; or at least that they were only the instruments of the Sovereign to furnish him with supplies. He had dissolved three in the first four years of his reign ; and even signified his intention INTRODUCTORY. 3 of calling no more. Twelve years passed without one parliament being summoned, during which the King was perplexed with the war of the Palatinate, in which his sister was concerned, and which the puritanic party, as well as others, had continually urged as necessary for the maintenance of the Protestant cause in Europe. To furnish the means for this and other foreign expeditions, he levied taxes on his subjects at pleasure, and exposed a policy that was inimical to the best interests of the established govern- ment. ^'All the foreign expeditions of Charles the First," observes the elder Disraeli, ' ' were alike disastrous ; the vast genius of Pichelieu, at its meridian, had paled our ineffectual star ! The dreadful surrender of Pochelle had sent back our army and navy baffled and disgraced ; and Buckingham had timely perished, to be saved from having one more reproach, one more political crime, attached to his name. Such failures did not improve the temper of the times ; but the most brilliant victory would not have changed the fate of the King, nor allayed the fiery spirits in the Commons, who, as Charles said, ' not satisfied in hearing coniplainers, had erected themselves into inquisitors after complaints.' " Numerous objections had been raised to arbitrary and illegal im- positions; but the tax which of all others appeared most grievous to the subject, and raised the greatest clamour, was that which Noy, the Attorney-General, invented or revived under the name of Ship-money. A feeble and distracted Government at home had lessened the respect in which England had been formerly held by foreign nations. Her ancient prestige on the seas was slighted by her neighbours, and her national glory diminished. To restore somewhat the naval supremacy of England, the sea-ports were required to equip vessels for the King's service; and the demand was soon afterwards extended to the whole kingdom, the inland towns compounding for their assessments in money. The amount of the whole tax was very moderate, scarcely exceed- ing £200,000 ; it was levied on the people with perfect equality, and the funds were honestly and successfully applied to the purposes for which they were raised. One of the most memorable and important processes in judicial history, is that by which the legality of this impost was tried in the case of Hampden. The assessment upon his extensive landed property was twenty shillings, and on so small a point turned the issue of a great constitutional question, namely the power of the Crown to tax the people without the the consent of Parliament. It was against this innovation that Hampden resolved to make a decisive stand. Judgment 4 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. was given for the Crown; but as the judges were beHeved to be corrupted, and as the elaborate arguments of Hampden's coujisel had convmced the nation that substantial right, if not the technical construction of statutes, favoiu^ed his cause, ''the judgment," says Clarendon, "proved of more advantage to the gentleman condemned than to the King's service." In the first fifteen years of the reign of Charles the First under the mistaken advice, first of Buckingham, and then of Strafford, continual breaches were made in the constitution, and the principles and rights of Parliament invaded. But the Ecclesiastical grievances, for which Laud is chiefly respon- sible, had a still more powerful effect. The harsh and cruel sentences by which the Star-Chamber, the High Commission, and the other Ecclesiastical Courts endeavoured to enforce religious uniformity were especially obnoxious, most of those who were not submissive enough to the King being looked upon as Puritans, and frequently oppressed as such. So by a calamitous policy, men well affected to the Church of England, but enemies to arbitrary power, were driven in spite of themselves to side with the Puritans, in order to strengthen their party, and enable them to oppose the designs of the Court. The Parliament which opposed and levied war against the King consisted almost entirely of persons who were members of the Church of England. They were men attached to the constitution, as well in Church as in State, and enemies only to the abuse of power in both. The subversion therefore of the Civil and Ecclesiastical Consti- tution, which afterwards happened, was certainly not owing to any settled design at the first, but to accidents and circumstances which could not possibly have been foreseen by those concerned in it. Charles the Eirst's last and greatest Parliament, which has been described as '' the most extraordinary and eventful Parliament in English History," met on the 3rd of November 1640. On the 1 Otli May following, the King, harassed out of his senses, committed the extraordinary imprudence of giving his consent to a Bill that Parliament should be elected once every three years, and that no future Parliament should be dissolved or adjourned except hj its own consent. By this Bill some of the most valued prerogatives of the Crown were annihilated ; but Charles, finding that nothing less would satisfy his parliament and people, had at last given his assent to this measure, which not only precipitated the war, but prepared the way for all that followed. It has been noticed that on the very day on which he took this, for him. INTRODUCTORY. 5 fatal and impolitic step, in the agony of irresolution and much to his discredit, he was induced to give the royal assent to the Bill of Attainder, consigning to the scaffold his firmest friend, Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford; an act upon which the King looked back with deep regret during the remainder of his life. In his last sad moments, it is said, the memory of this unfortunate circumstance recurred to him with sorrow and remorse. On the 4th January, 1641-2, although hostilities had not yet actually commenced, began what has been termed " the first act in the great drama of the Civil War." On that day the King determined to seize in person the five Members of the House of Commons, Pym, Hampden, HoUis, Haslerig, and Strode ; — a breach of the privileges of the House to which all the ensuing disorders and civil wars may in a great measure %e^directly ascribed. The King, soon after this ill-advised step^ retired from Whitehall to Hampton Court, and returned no more until he was brought there a prisoner shortly before his death. All prospects of reconciliation were now closed. The de- mands of Parliament amounted to a total abolition of monarchical authority ; and war on any terms was considered by the King and his advisers preferable to an ignominious peace on such conditions. Charles accordingly determined to support his authority by force. ''His towns," he said, " were taken from him, his ships, his arms, his money; but there still remained to him a good cause, and the hearts of his loyal subjects, which, with Grod's blessing, he doubted not, would recover all the rest." It was resolved that the Queen should go over to Holland, for the ostensible purpose of conducting the Princess Mary, a child of ten, to her afiianced husband the Prince of Orange. The Parliament was not de- ceived, however, respecting the real object of this journey, which was to solicit aid from foreign powers, and to purchase arms and ammunition with money to be raised on the valuable crown jewels the Queen took out with her, including the diamond ornaments and pearl necklace that had been part of her marriage trousseau. The Parliament passed the " ordinance for the militia," commanding it to be obeyed as the fundamental law of the kingdom ; and pronouncing the King's appointment of lieutenants over the respective Counties to be illegal and void. This momentous vote com- pleted the separation of the royalist and parliamentarian parties in the legislature. Charles, meantime, arrived at York, where he found himself again in possession of power. 6 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. On the 23rd April, 1642, the Eang, accompanied by a large gathering of royalist gentlemen, rode over from York, and demanded admittance into Hull, at that time the arsenal of the north. He was refused by Sir John Hotham, the governor, who, though he had accepted a commission from the Parliament, was not thought to be much disaffected to the King's interest. Charles immediately proclaimed Hotham as a traitor, and complained to the Parliament of his conduct. But the latter avowed and justified the action. The breach between the King and the Parliament daily grew wider, and preparations for war now proceeded rapidly. The Commons fixed on the Earl of Essex as the general for their army. Several members of the Parliament received commands ; St. -John, Hampden, Hollis, were named colonels of regi- ments of foot; Cromwell, Haslerig, Fiennes, of regiments of horse. Great excitement prevailed in London ; everybody went about decorated with orange ribands, the colour of Essex's House; the shops were closed, and civil business was almost at a standstill. Some trifling skirmishes had ah-eady occurred in the North ; and at Portsmouth the war had actually commenced. The King now judged that the time was come when he could no longer delay an appeal to his loyal subjects to support his authority, and therefore published a proclamation, requiring all those who could bear arms to meet him at Nottingham by the twenty-third of August, on which day he intended to set up his royal standard. Munitions of war had been sent from Holland by the Queen, and landed with diffi- culty on the Yorkshire coast. The King with his shadow of an army, consisting of about three hundred foot, and a few troops of horse, rode towards Nottingham on the day appointed, ' ' very melancholy," as his own historian relates. The weather was wild and rough, and the royal cavalcade could scarcely make way against it. Lord Clarendon, ^'ho was present, thus describes the scene: — '' The Standard was erected, about six of the clock in the evening of a very stormy and tempestuous day. The King himself, with a small train, rode to the top of the Castle Hill; Yerney, the knight-marshall, who was Standard Bearer, carrying the Standard, which was then erected in that place, with little other ceremony than the sound of Drums and Trumpets: melancholy men observed many ill presages about that time. There was but one regiment of foot yet brought thither; so that the train-bands, which the sheriff' had drawn together, were all the strength the King had for his person and the guard of his Standard. There appeared no conflux of men in obedience to the pro- INTEODUCTORY. 7 clamation ; the arms and ammunition Trere not yet come from York, and a general sadness covered tlie whole town. The Standard was blo^rn down the same night by a very strong and unruly wind, and could not be fixed again for a day or two, until the tempest was allayed. This was the melancholy state of the King's affairs when the Standard was set up." The royal army having been increased by reinforcements, and contributions having come in, the King with his little train of artillery, brought up from York, marched across Derbyshire towards the ^V elsh borders, designing to fix his head-quarters at Shrewsbury. His nephews, Rupert and Maurice, sons of his sister Elizabeth, came over from Grerniany to fight for him, and by the middle of October, he mustered at Shrews- bury an army of about 12,000 men. Finding himseK at the head of an army little inferior to that raised by the Parlia- ment, the King considered he ought to seek means to put a termination to hostilities, either by trying his strength with his opponents, or, by forced marches to appear in London before Essex could put himself in his way, or overtake him. On the 22nd October, the two armies, however, were within six miles of one another, without receiving notice of each other's march. And although celerity was so great an object with the King, Essex had considerably outstripped him in his progress. The King now judging it extremely hazardous to carry out his intention of marching upon London with his opponents so closely on his heels, resolved to try the issue of the sword. The next day, Sunday, the 23rd of October, was fought the first important conflict of the Great Civil War, that of Kineton Heath or Edgehill, on the borders of War- wickshire. Ere evening closed, Charles's general (the Earl of Lindsey), Sir Edward Verney, the Royal Standard-bearer, and about five thousand men belonging to the two rival forces, were lying dead on the field of this indecisive battle. After the struggle at Edgehill, the King, failing in an attempted march upon London, had retired to Oxford, which became from thenceforward his head-c_[uarters ; and, through the winter of 1642-3 and the early summer of 1643, the war continued, skirmishes and sieges taking place in various parts of England, so that there was scarcely a county free from internecine strife. The following summary may be useful. During the month of December two or three warmly contested actions took place in the North; and in the South Sir William Waller, commander for the Parliament, blew up Farnham Castle, and made the garrison prisoners of war. Shortly after, he took Winchester, and then Chichester, 8 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. after an eight days' siege. In the Western Counties, the royalists attacked the town of Marlborough, which had been fortified by the Parliament, who had placed there a numerous garrison. The town being carried by storm was plundered, and many of the defenders slain and taken prisoners. In January 1642-3 Sir Ralph Hopton engaged the Parlia- mentary forces at Liskeard, and afterwards took Saltash, whereby the Poyalists became absolute masters of all Corn- wall. On the 2nd of February, Prince Rupert took Cirencester by storm and made twelve hundred prisoners. On the 22nd, the Queen set foot again in England, having been absent almost exactly a year. She had raised in a few months no less than two millions sterling, an enormous sum tor that period, and it was chiefly owing to her exertions that Charles was enabled to bring an army into the field. In March Lord Brooke attacked some of the King's troops intrenched in the Close of Lichfield Cathedral, and was there killed. On the 19th of the same month a battle was fought at Hopton-Heath near Stafford, in which, though the Earl of Northampton, who commanded for the King, was slain, the result was considered unfavourable to the Parlia- ment. About the same time. Waller surprised a detachment under Lord Herbert, son of the Marquis of AVorcester, who was besieging Gloucester, and took about a thousand prisoners. In April, Reading surrendered to the Earl of Essex after a siege of ten days. The following month, Hopton defeated the Parliamentary levies under the Earl of Stamford at Stratton, in Cornwall. Hampden fell at Chalgrove in June. Waller suffered a reverse on Lansdown Heath, and at Roundway Down, Devizes, in July; and a Httle later on the city of Bristol, insufficiently defended, surrendered to Prince Rupert. Thus the balance had turned in favour of Charles. Ex- treme danger now threatened the Parliament. There was no force between Oxford and London to oppose the King's approach except Essex's diminished army, whose thinned ranks had not yet been refilled. The Parliament, says May, its own historian, ''was then in a low ebb; and before the end of that July, they had no forces at all to keep the field, their main armies being quite ruined. Thus seemed the Parliament to be quite sunk beyond any hope of recovery, and was so believed by many men. The King was possessed of all the western counties from the farthest part of Cornwall, and from thence northward as far as the borders of Scotland. His armies were full and flourishing, free to march wherever they pleased, and numerous enough to be divided for several exploits." INTRODUCTOKY. 9 After the surrender of Bristol to tlie Boj'-alists, tlie King had again joined the camp; and, having sent Prince Maurice with a detachment into Devonshire, he deliberated how to employ his remaining forces in an enterprise of moment. Some of his followers proposed that he should march direct to London, where everything was in confusion, though this undertaking, by reason of the great strength of the London Militia or Trained Bands, was thought to be attended with great difficulties ; but Grloucester, lying within 20 miles of Bristol, presented a possibly easier conquest. This was the only remaining garrison possessed by the Parliament in the west of the kingdom ; and, by interrupting the communications of the royal armies between the south-west and north-east, prevented these from acting in concert. Hence the King at last assented to the plan of besieging this important town. The questionable policy of this measure is thus noticed by one of Charles's most faithful adherents, Sir Philip "W arwick ; — '' One (or the like) councill in both quarters, north and west, soon blasted the prosperity in each place ; for the King piteht upon that fatall resolution, recommended to him, it is said, by the Lord Cul^^eper (who wanted no loyalty), of be- sieging Glocester, who thought it a good policy not to leave a strong towne behind him. But the counsell proved fatall ; for had the King at that time resolv'd in himself to have struck at the proud head of London and had had authority enough at that time to have recj[uired the Earl of Newcastle to have joyned with him, (both armies being never in so good a state, and the countries, which they commanded, so free and secure), humanely speaking, he had rais'd such confusion among the two Houses and the Londoners, that they had either sent him his owne terms, or if they had fought him, most probably he had bin victorious. For the countries about London were well-affected to the King's cause ; and many in London passionately wished for his approach. But the King fixes on Gloucester, and the Earle of Newcastle as fatally about the same time setts down before Hull." ^' After all, it is by no means certain that this proposed march to London would have been so effectual and so little opposed as it is here taken for granted it would have been. The King's army, under his immediate command, occupied the heights above the City of Gloucester, on the 10th August, which was defended by a garrison of only fifteen hundred men, besides the inhabitants ; and the Governor (Massey) was peremptorily summoned to surrender, under the promise of a * Sir Ph. Warwick's 'Memoires,' pp. 260 — 2. 10 THE FIEST BATTLE OF NEWBUEY. general amnesty-; two hours being allowed for an answer. Before the expiration of that time, two deputies from the city, Sergeant-Major^' Pudsey and a citizen, presented themselves at the camp. They were pale, thin men, dressed in black, and closely shaven: ^'We bring to his Majesty," said they, " an answer from the godly city of Gloucester ; " and on being introduced to Charles, they read a letter, which ran thus : *' We, the inhabitants, magistrates, officers, and soldiers within the garrison of Gloucester unto his Majesty's gracious message return this humble answer, That we do keep this city, according to our oath and allegiance, to and for the use of his Maj esty signified by both houses of Parliament ; and are resolved by God's help, to keep this city accordingly." Clarendon states, that on hearing this brief reply, delivered in a firm, clear tone, and perceiving the strange appearance of the messengers, who stood motionless before the King awaiting his answer, a movement at once of surprise, derision, and anger was about to manifest itself on the part of the courtiers ; but Charles, as grave as his enemies, repressed it with a gesture, and dismissed the deputies with these words : *' If you expect help, you are deceived ; Waller is extinct, and Essex cannot come." The deputation had no sooner entered the city, than the inhabitants set fire to the suburbs, and left themselves nothing to defend but what was within the walls, on the principle that '^ a city without skirts left nothing for the enemy to sit upon." For twenty-six days, from August 10th to September 5th, the citizens, by their indefatigable exertions, frustrated all the efforts of the besiegers. Except a hundred and fifty men kept in reserve, the whole garrison were constantly on foot. In all their labours, in all their dangers, the people took part with the soldiers, the women with their husbands, the children with their mothers. Massey even made frequent sallies, and only three men took advan- tage of them to desert. Tired of so long a delay, attended by neither glory nor rest, the royal army in a spirit of revenge licentiously devastated the country round, the officers fre- quently employing their men to carry off from his house some rich farmer or peaceable freeholder of the other side, who only regained his liberty on payment of ransom, f The news of the siege of Gloucester caused the greatest consternation in London ; and the Parliament, seeing the * "Sergeant-Major " formerly signified the officer now styled Major, and the "Sergeant-Major General" was what is now called Maj or - General. t Clarendon's ' Hist, of the Rebellion,' vol. ii, p. 341. INTRODUCTORY. 11 absolute necessity of relieving the town as the only means of supporting their cause, now exerted to the utmost their power and authority. Trading was for a time suspended, in order that none should decline military service upon whom the lot should fall. The relief of Gloucester was urged in every pulpit. A force of 8000 horse and 4000 foot was expeditiously put into a condition of marching against the King ; and a committee, comprising some of the warmest partisans of war, went to the Earl of Essex on the 4th August to inform him of the measures that had been taken to recruit and make full provision for his army, and to enquire what else he needed. In a word, they entrusted the destiny of the country to his hands, with assurance of the complete confidence reposed in him by Parliament. The Earl, in a letter to the Speaker, assured the House he would never desert the cause *' as long as I have any blood in my veins, until this kingdom may be made happy by a blessed peace (which is all honest men's prayers) or to have an end by the sword." ^' Essex mustered his forces at Hounslow on the 24th of August ; and, after a solemn review in the presence of nearly all the Members of both Houses, marched by way of Coin- brook, Beaconsfield, and Aylesbury to the assistance of Gloucester. On the first of September he arrived at Brackley Heath, the general rendezvous, where he was joined by a reinforcement of horse and a train of artillery, which brought his force up to about 14,000 men. He then proceeded byway of Bicester, Chipping Norton, and Stow-on-the-Wold ; here he was attacked by a detached corps of cavalry under Prince Pupert, who vainly endeavoured to stop him ; but the Earl advanced, without suffering himself to be turned from his road, driving the enemy before him. He was already within a few miles of the Poyalist Camp, already the King's horse had fallen back on the advanced posts of his infantry, when, in the hope of delaying the Earl, if only for a day, Charles sent him a messenger with proposals of peace. *' The Parlia- ment," answered Essex, '^ gave me no commission to treat, but to relieve Gloucester; I will do it, or leave my body beneath its walls ! " The soldiers were equally determined. •'No propositions: no propositions!" shouted they when they heard of the arrival of a trumpeter from the King. So Essex continued his march, and on the 5th September he appeared on Prestbury Hills within view of the city. Here the thunder of his cannon announced to the belea- * Carte's MS. Letters ; Bibl. Bodl. 12 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. guered citizens that their deliverance had come ; and soon the sight of the King's quarters in flames informed them that the siege was raised. The important services performed by Massey and the garrison at Gloucester called forth the thanks of Parliament, who granted £1,000 to the governor, and proportionate largess to the officers and soldiers ; and, in order to preserve the memory of the transaction, the 5th of September was ordered by the Mayor and Corporation to be observed as an annual holiday, and was so kept until the Restoration. The south gate of the city, which had been battered down during the siege, was rebuilt the same year, with these mottoes inscribed round the arch : on one side '^ a city assaulted by MAN, BUT SAVED BY GOD ; " and on the other side, next the city, " EVER REMEMBER THE A'th SEPT. 1643 GIVE GOD THE GLORY." At the Restoration these inscriptions were effaced, and the royal arms substituted. The walls and fortifications of the city were destroyed by order of King Charles II. ; although the citizens sent early congratulations on his safe return, *' lauded his singular j)atience in his long and disconsolate exile, implored pardon, and cheerfully jdelded uj) the fee-farm rents due to the crown, which they had been forced to pur- chase by the threatening violence of the times." Massey eventuallj^ left the Parliament's service, being set aside by the Independents upon the passing of the Self-denying Ordinance, and joined Prince Charles in Holland, under whose standard he fought at Worcester ; but, being taken prisoner, he was committed to the Tower. He managed how- ever to escape, and, after the death of Cromwell, he undertook to seize Gloucester, but was taken in the attempt. A second time he slipped from his captors ; and, on the restoration of the secluded Members in 1660, he appeared in Parliament, and represented Gloucester the two following years, in the last of which he was knighted. Such an easy success as that gained by Essex in this expedition may be attributed to supineness on the part of his adversary ; but it is probable that, as Clarendon says, the Royalists could not believe he was coming, and ''laid their account " in the nearly thirty miles of champaign country that he would have to traverse, after the King's soldiers had eaten it bare ; and where, if he attempted the expedition, the royal horse would perpetually infest his march and probably destroy his army. ^ By a fortunate coincidence of circumstances, the day that * Clarendon's 'Hist, of the Rebellion,' vol. ii, p. 343. INTKODUCTORY. 13 the Parliamentary troops entered Gloucester had been set apart for a public fast, but on their arrival it was turned into a day of rejoicing. Provisions of all kinds were conveyed to the city, the Governor and his soldiers were loaded with praise, the citizens congratulated on their courage, and the Earl was received everywhere with demonstrations of gratitude. It was generally conceded that the march of Essex to Gloucester was one of the most able ex^^loits in the whole course of the war ; for his troops were untrained and ill- discij)lined, and for the greater part of the way he was in the enemy's country. Erom Brackley to Prestbury, Wilmot and four other royalist commanders were hanging on his rear; and in the encounter at Stow, Prince Eupert with 4,000 horse made a desperate attempt to cut off his advanced guard, but in vain. It would appear, from the following remarks by Lord Orrery that there was more of a fight here than the historians have mentioned: he says ''When Essex marched to relieve Gloucester, Prince Pupert advanced with his cavalry to meet the relieving army on the Downs, which doubtless he had defended, had not some brigades of Essex's infantrj^ done wonders on that day."''' At Gloucester the Lord-General left his heavy ordnance with forty barrels of powder and the greater part of his baggage, the better to expedite his march over an unusually hilly country. Having strengthened and victualled the garrison, which had been driven to great extremities, his mission was accomplished; but, fearing an engagement with the enemy on account of their superiority in cavalry, he determined to manoeuvre his way back to London without risking a battle. Moreover the London trained-bands and auxiliaries, supposing their work already done, earnestly desired to direct their footsteps homewards. Leaving Gloucester, Essex, with the object of dividing the King's forces, made a demonstration, as though he intended to proceed northward to Worcester; but, changing his route on a sudden, he marched to Tewkesbury, where, having thrown a bridge over the Severn aud dispatched a body of troops to Upton as a feint, he quartered till Eriday, 15th September. Succeeding by this skilful manoeuvre in drawing the King's attention towards Worcester, Essex with the remainder of his army took advantage of a dark night, and moved for Cirencester. His vanguard, arriving in the town about 1 a.m. on Saturday morning, surprised two newly raised regiments of Poyal horse, intended for service in Kent, and * Orrery's ' Art of War,' p. 180. 14 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. commanded by Sir Nicholas Crispe and Col. Spencer, both of whom were then absent. In the fight which ensued, the Parliamentarians took 300 prisoners, 400 horses, with six stands of colours ; and, what was of more consequence, obtained possession of a large store of provisions ; thus enabling the Earl to refresh his exhausted forces, and perhaps mainly- contributing to his success at Newbury. This skirmish is referred to in Corbet's " Eolation of the Siege of Grloucester " in the following terms : " The forlorn hope entered Cirences- ter, whilst the rest surrounded it, killed the centinell sleeping, march'd up to the market-house without opposition (the enemy supposing them Prince Maurice, his forces that night expected) till they entered the houses and surprised them in bed, took 400 men and thirty cart-loads of bread and cheese and other provisions, a great relief in a wasted country, and the only support of the soldiers against the battle of Newbury." The royalist troopers taken prisoners at Cirencester were secured in the fine old parish church, which, fortunately, escaped injury during the siege in the previous year, the in- habitants having carefully protected it by suspending wool- packs around the exterior. After a few hours' rest, Essex was again on the march, his means being augmented on the way by the addition of some 1,000 sheep and 60 head of cattle, which had been taken from Poyalist adherents en route. These were afterwards lost during the action on Aldbourne Chase, '' every man's care then being to secure himself." On Saturday a halt was made at Cricklade, and on Sunday at Swindon, where the Earl of Essex attended service at the parish church, and the same night, with the van of the army quartered at Chiseldon, the artiller}^ and trained-bands remaining at Swindon. Very early next morning, September 18th,- the army broke up from Swindon and Chisledon, and got upon the Down, called Aldbourne Chase, near Shipley Bottom, and the march was resumed towards Hungerford. In a contemporary letter from Lord Greorge Digby, Essex is said to have had 2,000 horse and 5,000 foot when he marched from Tewkesbury ; but he had left some of his troops at Gloucester and others at Upton, and had lost a number of his men in several skirmishes ; and this will account to some extent for the diminution of the force with which he had left London. There were also numerous stragglers on the march ; and many of the Parliamentary soldiers, who remained behind drinking and who neglected to march with the colours, were slain by the Poyalists on entering the towns and villages, or were taken prisoners. Essex's numerical strength, however, afterwards at Newbury, was evidently beyond Lord Digby's THE ACTION ON ALDBOURNE CHASE. 15 computation ; for when tlie Earl marclied from Brackley lie had. an army of about 14,000 men, and no regular engage- ment had taken place to account for a diminution to the extent of one-half of his available force. CHAPTER II. THE ACTION ON ALDBOUENE CHASE. To the royal cause the raising of the siege of Gloucester was a fatal blow. The future of the Royalist party was gloomy enough at this time, and Charles felt it fully. Since retiring from before the city, the defeated King had halted in the neighboui-hood of Winchcombe and at Sudeley Castle, about eight miles from Gloucester, awaiting the motions of the enemy. Finally the Eoyal army retired towards Pains- wick, and occupied the position known as '^ Sponebed Hill." Here it is related that the King being seated on a stone near the Camp, with his two elder sons (the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York), one of them asked him when they should return home, — "Alas! my son," mournfully replied the un- fortunate monarch, '' I have no home to go to." It is mentioned in Warburton's ' Memoirs and Correspond- ence of Prince Pupert,' that the latter had sent notice of the movements of Essex to his Majesty ; but he, believing himself better informed, allowed the enemy twenty-four hours advan- tage before he followed him. But there appears to be some discrepancy between the statements here made and those of Lord Byron * in a letter to Lord Clarendon f wherein he says : — '' that had Prince Pupert been pleased to credit my intelligence, the advantage which Essex gained might have been prevented ; which neglect obliged the army to go so hasty and painful a march, that before he reached Newbury there was about 2,000 horse and as many foot lost by the way." This is corroborated by Capt. John Gwynne, who says, X ' ' And when we drew off from Gloucester it proved to be most miserible tempestuous rainy weather so that few or none could take little or no rest on the hills where they were, * For memoirs of persons of note, see Appendix. t Lord Byron's account of the Battles of Newbnry, in a letter to Lord Clarendon, in MS. Clar. State Papers, in Bodleian Lib., No. 1738. I Gwynne' s ' Milit. Memoirs,' pp. 36—37. 16 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. the ■winds next morning soon clrj^ed up our througli-wet clotlies we lay pickled in all night (as a convenient washing for us at our coming from the trenches), and we made such haste in pursuit of Essex's army that there was an account of 1,500 foot quite tired and spent, not possible to come up to their colours before we engaged the enemy ; and a night or two before we lost two regiments of horse, of Kentish men, and new raised regiments, which were surprised and taken prisoners in their quarters, and what was worse in most men's opinion, we were like to drop down every step we made with want of sleepe, yet notwithstanding we marcht on till we overtook the enemy's army at Newberry Towns-end." As soon, however, as the King felt assured as to Essex's march and route, he dispatched Prince Rupert with a strong body of horse "^^ to overtake him before he should get so far in advance as to form a junction with Waller's army, which was daily expected to leave London. The Prince accordingly, mustering his cavalry on Broadway Down, gave immediate pursuit, and by the time that Essex reached Swindon, Pupert arrived at Earingdon, having taken a route through Fairford and Lechlade, with the main part of his troops, and only dis- patched a single regiment of horse under Colonel Hurry, on the same track that the Earl of Essex was taking. So that at this moment Pupert, by astonishing rapidity, was almost as near to Hungerford as the Parliamentary army was, while a body of 1,000 cavalry was advancing on their rear. The force at the disposal of the King at this time may be estimated at 10,000 men. According to Papin, t he com- manded when before Gloucester about " 8,000 horse and foot ; " but this may probably be read as 8,000 of each arm, since, from the facts that such a considerable deduction has to be made for stragglers, and that a garrison of 3,000 infantry and 500 cavah'y was left in Peading after the New- bury battle, and in addition a force was placed in Donnington Castle, it certainly seems that the army of the Poyalists was far more numerous than the historian would lead us to believe. Pudge, in his ' History of Gloucester,' indeed, computes the King's forces as 30,000 strong, which is doubtless an exaggera- tion ; and Lord Byron states that the army before Gloucester was the greatest the King had during the war ; so that the estimate of 10,000 men for the Poyalist force that fought afterwards at Newbury is fairly accurate. Clarendon also *Warburtou's 'Prince Rupert,' vol. ii, 291. t Rapin's * Hist. Eng.', vol. ii, p. 478. THE ACTION ON ALDBOUENE CHASE. 17 bears tMs out in Ms statement tliat tlie King's army contained ''above 8,000 horse" wben bis Majesty left Gloucester.^* Prince Rapert's detachment, therefore, may well have numbered 3,000 sabres, exclusive of the regiment sent under Hurry to harass the rear of the Parliamentary forces ; and their order of march was such as to offer every advantage to such a dashing cavalier as the nephew of King Charles. Upon the Monday morning, September 18th, Pupert sent on Colonel Hurry, who had followed in Essex's track by way of Cricklade, to reconnoitre, and soon learnt that the Parlia- mentary troops were passing over Aldbourne Chase, on their way to Newbury. Essex's column of infantry was moving with wide intervals '* between their divisions;" and his cavalry were nearly a mile in the rear. Thus, though in actual presence of the enemy, they did little to ascertain where that enemy was. The opportunity was a good one for a bold and intelligent adversary ; for a force of all arms indifferently accustomed to combined action, would, as all history tells us, be subject to grave disadvantage if attacked under these cir- cumstances. Lord Byron, after describing the position of the Parliamentary army on Aldbourne Chase as of '' great advantage for our horse," says, ''we were so placed that we had it in our power both to charge their horse in flank and at the same time to have sent another party to engage their artillery, yet that fair occasion was omitted, and the enemy allowed to join all their forces together, and then we very courageously charged them." It is a most noticeable fact that the Parliamentary army was singularly unaccustomed, at this time, to the movement of mixed bodies. To keep so great a distance between the different fractions, was, from every point of view, likely to lead to disaster, inasmuch as each might be taken individually, and thus the value of the united force be entirely destroyed. This engagement took place on the open down between Chisledon and Aldbourne, near Dudmore Lodge, about two miles to the north-west of the latter village, and in this locality a cannon ball and other relics of the skirmish have been found. The encounter is graphically referred to in two con- temporary tracts, which give both the Poyalist and Parlia- mentarian version of the affair. In Pobert Codrington's " Life and Death of the Earl of Essex," the author, after an account of the siege of Gloucester, relates that " From hence [Cirencester] his Excellence marched into Wiltshire, and, being advanced towards Aubui^n Hills, he had a sight of his * Clarendon, 'Life,' vol. i, p. 164. D 18 THE FIEST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. Majest3^'s horse, wliicli aj)peared in several great bodies, and were so niarslialled to charge our army of foot, being then on their march in several divisions ; which caused our foot to unite themselves into one gross, our horse perpetually skirmishing with them, to keep them off the foot. In the meantime, the dragoons on both sides gave fire in full bodies on one another, on the side of the Hill, that the woods above, and the vallies below, did echo with the thunder of the charge. There were about foui'score slain upon the place, and more than as many more were sorely Avounded. Our horse also made great impression upon the Queen's regiment of horse, and charged them again and again, and cut in pieces many of her life-guard. In this service, the Marquis of Yiville was taken prisoner : it seems he would not be known who he was ; but endeavouring to rescue himself from a Lieutenant that took him Prisoner, and thereupon, having his head almost cloven asunder with a pole ax, he acknowledged himseK, in the last words he spoke, which were, Votis voijez tin grand Marquis mourant ; that is. You see a great Marquis dying. His dead body was carried to Hungerford by the Lorcl General's command. It had not been long there, but the King did send a Trumpet to his Excellenc}^, conceiving that the Marquis had been wounded ovlj, and taken Prisoner, and desired that his Chirurgeons and Doctors might have free Access unto him for his Pecovery. His Excellency certified the Trumpet that he was dead, and retui'ned his Body to the King, to receive those funeral rites as his Majesty would give it. Some say, that his bod}^ was ransomed for three hundred Pieces of Gold." This latter statement is borne out by AVhitelock in his Memoirs, who further narrates that the money was divided by Essex among his soldiers : and that this statement, as to the disposal of the body of the Marquis is probable, ma}^ be inferred from the fact that the registers of the Parish Church of Hungerford, though containing records of the burial of soldiers, make no reference to any who are of higher rank or greater note. ^* Monsieur de Larrey observes in reference to the Marquis : — '' The Prench, who never fail of illustrating the actions of their countrymen, extol the prowess of Chartre, Persans, and * The Aldbouriie Registers are blank during the period of the Civil War, and they do not recommence until 1646. In the Hungerford Registers, however, are the following entries : 1643, Sept. 18, buried four soldiers : Sept. 25, buried another soldier ; Oct. 4, Henry Chorbley a soldier. It would seem from the dates that these were some of the victims of the skirmish above described. Had De Vieuville been in- terred there, doubtless it would have been mentioned. THE ACTION ON ALDBOURNE CHASE. 19 Beaveau, [and Vieuville ••'] four of their heroes who were in this engagement near Hungerford. These came over with the Count de Harcourt, whom the young King Lewis the 14*^, or rather the Queen Eegent, sent into England, in quality of Ambassador Extraordinary, to negociate a reconciliation be- tween the King and the Parliament ; these four lords suflter- ing themselves to be carried away with the fire natural to their nation, and forgetting the occasion of their journey, came and offer'd their services to the King, and were actually in the battle. It cost the Marcjuis of Yieuville his life, for he was killed by Col. Kilson, whom he had wounded and was pursuing with too much obstinacy ; and the bravery of these four adventurers was the occasion of the Ambassador's negociation proving abortive. For the Parliament, resenting his partiality, would not hearken to his proposals. This was what they signified to him by the Earls of Stamford and Salisbury, who were deputed by the two Houses. The Ambassador excus'd it as an imprudent action, which he said could not be imputed to him; and for which the other had been sufficiently punish'd by the death of one of their com- panions : but these excuses were rejected. Even he himself was accus'd as coming rather as a spy than an Ambassador, and with a design rather to foment the troubles than to appease them." f As might be expected, the Poyalist's account is somewhat more lengthy, and he evidently views the affair of Aldbourne Chase as a minor victory, though the success was so partial as scarcely to make it worth claiming. Still the preliminary move- ments of the Poyalists were not unskilfully taken, for while Col. Hurry with 1,000 troopers was dispatched to harass the rear, the remainder of the cavalry under Pupert himself moved off to * This name is oiiiittecl in the text, but referred to in a marginal note. See Clarendon's Hist, v. ii, p. 346. t ' History of the Eeign of King Charles I.', Loncl. 1716, vol ii,, pp. 165 — 6, An excellent portrait of the Marqiiis de Vieuville by Vandyke, was formerly in the collection of the Duke of Buckingham, at Stowe, and is thus described in the ' Tour by a German Prince,' vol, iii,, p. 277. " The dress is odd, but picturescjiic^a white 'just eau corps a la Henri quatre,' with a black mantle thrown over it ; full, short, black breeches falling over the knee, mth silver points ; pale violet stockings, with gold clocks, and white shoes with gold roses. On the mantle is embroidered the star of the Holy G-host, five times as large as it is now worn, the blue ribbon ' en sautoir, ' but hanging very low, and the cross worn in the present fashion on the side ; it is narrower and smaller than now, and hangs by the broad ribbon almost under the arm." This portrait was sold at the Stowe sale, in 1848, for £220 10s. Od. The purchaser was Mr. Emanuel, of Bond Street, London. 20 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. intercept and assail tlie liead of the hostile column. Here let the Royalist writer, " a noble person from the South," tell the story in his own words. ' ' It was our good lucke to cross his army just as our party had overtaken it upon the open Downe, two miles on the north-west side of Auhime. The Hebells descrying us drew up in Battalia, leaving onely a body of some 200 Horse upon a Hill, somewhat distant from the Grosse of their Army, which we found means so to steale upon with Hurryes party, as to charge and route them, and taking two Cornetts, and killing forty or fifty Men, without any losse on our part, we beat them into their Foot, and Cannon ; upon which occasion we discovered such evident syniptomes of f eare and distraction in their whole Army, as that the Prince was well nigh tempted from his temper, and was once resolved to have charged with three thousand Horse alone ; their whole Army consisting of two thousand Horse, and five thousand Foot at least, and store of Cannon. But newes arriving at the instant, That our Foot, was beyond expectation, advanced within six or seven miles Miles of us, it imposed upon his Highnesse prudence this caution, not to adventure upon halfe our strength, that rest, which the next day he might be sure to fight for with double power : Upon which consideration he made a stand, resolving that night, onely to attend them and hinder their March. We had not stood long, when we discovered that the enemy prepared for a retreat, and by degrees drew away their Baggage first, then their Foot, leaving their Horse at a good distance from them. The Prince his designe hereupon, was, to have charged them, when halfe their forces should have been drawne ofl: the field into those Lanes whereunto their Baggage was already advanced. But their Motions being so very slow, and the Night drawing on ; upon second thoughts, his Highnesse judged it the best course, to try if by a small party he coidd ingage their Horse, which was then grown to be a good dis- tance from their Foot. This party he committed to the care of Hurrey, with two Pegiments onely neer at hand to second him, keeping the Body of his Horse at such a distance, as might incourage the enemy to venture on that sever' d part, which they did with a little too much incouragement, for to say the truth, the Pegiment that should have seconded Hurrey, not doing their part so well as they ought, forced his party almost to make somewhat a disorderly retreat, and the Prince to send hasty succours to them ; which the Queenes Pegiment (commanded by my Lord Jermine) was ordered to doe, which his Lordship performed with much gallantry, being received very steadily by a strong body of the enemies' Horse, and THE ACTION ON ALDBOURNE CHASE. 21 with a composednesse in the Officer that commanded them, very remarkable, for his Lordship advancing before his Eegi- ment, with the Marqnesse of ViviUe on one hand, and the Lord Dighj on the other, the enemies volley of Carbines (given them smartly at lesse than ten yards) being past, the Commander (somewhat forwarder than the rest) was plainly seen to prye into their Countenances, and removing his levell from one to another to discharge his Pistoll, as it were by election at the Lord Digbyes head, but without any more hurt (saving onely the burning of his face) then he him- selfe received by my Lord Jerman^s sword, who (upon the Lord Dighjes Pistoll missing fire) ran him with it into the back : but he was as much beholding there to his Arms, as the Lord Digby to his head-piece. Immediately upon this shock, the Queene's Eegiment was so charged in the reare by a fresh body of theirs, that the greatest part of it shifting for themselves, the Lord Jermine accompanied with the French Marquesse, and the Officers onely of his regiment thought it as safe a way, as well as the most honourable, to venture for- ward through their whole Army, rather than to charge back through those that invironed him, and so with admirable successe (the unhappy losse of that gallant Marquesse excepted) he brought himselfe, foure CouUers, and all his Officers oft' safe, haviug made their way round through the grosse of the Enemies foot. The Lord Dighy (l)eing stunn'd and for the present blinded with his shot,) was fortunately received out of the middle of a Eegiment of the Enemies by a brave Charge, which Prince Rupert in Person made upon them with His one Troope, where in His Highnesse Horse was shot in the Head imder Him ; but yet by God's blessing brought him off. And so the Enemies' Horse being beaten quite up to their Foot and Cannon, the night comming upon us, gave a Period to that action." ^* After this the Poyalists proceeded towards Newbury, and the Parliamentarians to Hungerford, where crossing the Kennet they also prepared for a further advance towards the former town, though by the opposite bank of the stream. It is evident that Essex had originally designed to proceed to Heading by the London Poad on the left bank of the river, but the sudden irruption of Pupert's cavalry led him of necessity to change his plan. If the skirmish was not com- pletely successful, it at any rate forced the Parliamentarians off their direct road and compelled them to place an obstacle * ' A Copy of a Letter written to his Excellence the Marquesse of Newcastle by a noble person from the South' &c., &c., 1643, p. 5, etseci. 22 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. between tliemselves and their pursuers. Througliout it must be borne in mind that Essex's chief desire was to reach London. To fight his way there was apparently not his in- tention, if it could be avoided. But the cavalry action delayed him by driving him off the London Itoad, and enabled the King's infantry to reach Newbury ; and thus the royal army appeared in menacing force on the flank of the line of march of the Parliamentarians, obliging the Earl to form front to his flank and attempt to defeat the King before he continued his own advance towards the Capital. Probably ho hoped to pass the Kennet at Newbury ; but having failed there, he chose the next available passage, that of Padworth, after the battle on the 20th September had been decided in his favour. The skirmish, however, though well conceived and, as we have seen, partially successful, was but feebly executed. The opportunity afforded by the lengthy division of the Earl's column of march on open ground, for a demoralizing blow at the Army of the Parliament was almost lost through the want of order and method of the attack. '' The Armies" writes Byron again, " were then drawne so near together that it was impossible the enemy coidd avoid fighting with us if we pleased ; and hereupon a fourth error may be observed, for notwithstanding the necessity there was of fighting (at least if they persisted in their marching to London and we in ours of preventing them) yet no orders were given out for the manner of our fighting and how the army should be embattled as usuallj^ is done on the like occa- sions." Skill must be combined with courage to reap the full fruits of victory ; and these only partially rested with the troopers of the King, for the army of the Parliament made good its march to Hungerford though it left behind it accord- ing to the 'Mercurius Aulicus' "17 carts heavily laden with ammunition and victual, three whereof were bullet, the rest wheat and other provisions, leaving there also the 1,000 sheep (previously mentioned) tyed by the legs, 200 whereof were at once restored to their owners, the rest left till those who had a just right to them should come and claim them." "^'^ Both sides suffered considerable loss in this encounter. Of the ofiicers of the Parliament, Capt. Middleton and Capt. Hacket are recorded as being slain, and Capt. Poper of Lord Fielding's regiment severety wounded. Whitelock estimates the killed on both sides at about 80 ; and the ' True Informer ' of September 23rd, 1643, says " Of persons of note slain on the King's side in the skirmish was the Marquis of Yieuville, his * 'Mercurins Aulicus,' Friday, October 6th, 1643i THE ACTION" ON ALDBOURNE CHASE. 23 son, and Sir Jolin Tlirogmorton," but this appears to be one of the frequent exaggerations of party pamphleteers. Two of the Throckmortons, Colonels Ambrose and Thomas, were in the service of King Charles, but it is not recorded in any other account of the skirmish that either of them fell here, or that the Marquis de yieu\dUe had a son killed in the action. Some traces of the fight were found in May, 1815, when the workmen, in widening the turnpike road from Swindon to Hungerf ord, exhumed sixty skeletons on removing a bank at Preston at the spot where the parishes of Aldbourne and Eamsbury join, a few yards from the turning leading to the latter place. The skeletons were those of young men, and lay scattered about two feet below the surface. The bones were placed in carts and conveyed to the churchyards of Aldbourne and Hamsbury where they were re-interred. If, as in all probabilit}^, these remains were those of the soldiers killed in the skirmish on the Chase, it is a singular coincidence tliat the boundary-line of two parishes should have been chosen, as at Newbury, for the place of burial for the slain. It is probable that as this '' running fight" extended over both parishes, the parochial authorities undertook jointly to gather up and inter the dead, the union point of their resj)ec- tive parishes being selected as significant of the mutual character of their obligation, and also as an enduring land- mark. A considerable portion of this bank, which has the appearance of having been artificially raised, still remains at the side of the road, and can be identified by a row of fir trees growing at the top. In Lovers' Coppice, about 1,500 yards west from where the bodies were found, a number of silver coins of Elizabeth, James I., and Charles I. (280) were dis- covered in the year 18G7, the greater portion of which came into the possession of the late Major Seymour, of Crowood, on whose property the wood is situate, who had them converted into a tankard. A tradition exists, that during *' The Troubles " many of the inhabitants of Eams- bury, fearful of being plundered and of losing their lives, took shelter in this wood ; these coins may have been buried at this time by one of the refugees, and by some accident never again recovered. 24 THE FIEST BATTLE OF NEWBUBY. CHAPTER III. MAECH OF THE AEMIES TO NEWBUEY. Tlie King, with the foot and artillery, continued to advance Bteadily, and on Sunday morning, Sept. 17th, wrote to he Prince Eupert, by John Ashburnham, as follows : — '' May it please your Highness, His Majesty hath com- manded me to let your Highness know that he has altered his resolution of quartering this night at Burford, and now intends to quarter at Alvesscott at the Lady Ashcome's house where he will be better furnished with provisions for his army, and being the straighter way, will save three or four miles march. It is within 5 miles of Farringdon, whither his Majesty desires you would advertise him this night of your proceedings. "With my humble service presented, I kiss your Highness's hand, and am, Sir, your most humble Servant, John Ashburnham. Northleach, 12 of the clock, Sept. 17th, 1643."^* The same evening another letter, written by Lord George Digby, was sent by the King : — ' ' May it please your Highness, The King hath received your Highness's letter written from Stamford, at five of the clock this evening, and commands me thereupon to let your Highness know, that since it appears by your intelligence that my Lord of Essex is not so far out of reach as was feared, he is desirous to make all haste towards him ; his Majesty's army being all, except stragglers, well up hither to Alvesscott ; his Majesty's desire therefore is that if your in- telligence of the Eebells not being further advanced than Cricklade continue true, your Highness will be pleased to send speedily your opinion which way and to what place it will be fit for the King to march with his army tomorrow. As we looke uppon the map here, supposing that Essex points for Eeading, we conceive Wantage will be the aptest place, but in this His Majesty conceives he is to be governed wholly by directions from your Highness according to your discoveries of their motions, or the impressions you shall make upon * Warburton's * Prince Bupert,' vol. ii, 289. MARCH OF THE ARMIES TO NEWBURY. 25 them, and therefore, he desires your Highness to send him speedy advertisements, of what you shall conceive best. Your Highness's most humble servant, George Digby. Alvesscott, at 8 at night, this Sunday. I am commanded to add, that you should consider to allow the foot here as much rest as can well be without losing the opportunity. Sept. 17th, 1643. Digby." ^^ At one o'clock in the morning of the following day, Charles dispatched another missive to Kupert, in reply to a letter from the Prince, this time written by the Duke of Richmond : '' Your Highness. I have let the King see what you writt, who approves of all in it, and will accordingly perform his part, only desires to have certain knowledge when Essex moved, or shall move from Cricklade, that if His Majesty's armie can arrive time enough (which he will the presently he receives the answer), he will take up his quarters at or about Wantage, so as to reach Newbury as you propose, but if that cannot be, he is loth to wearie the foot after so great a march as they have had, which you know infers that many are behind. Last night my Lord Digby writt to your Highness by the King's order upon the receipt of yours from Stamford, to which I can add what is only known since, that besides Vavasour and some other forces, Woodhouse will, I feel con- fident, come to-day with the Prince of Wales's regiment, say 700. * * * The motion of our armie depends much on [what] the advertisement from you will give [us] information. PiCHMOND and Lennox, September 18, at 1 morning." f After a brief halt at Faringdon, where the King dined, the troops were soon again on the move ; and that evening they reached Wantage, his Majesty sleeping at the house of Sir Geo. Wilmot at Charlton. Thither Pupert sent an express messenger to the King urging him to advance with all speed in the direction of Newbury, as Essex was now fairly on his way to that place, the possession of the town being the object chiefly aimed at by the enemy. The Prince meanwhile marched with his horse from Aldbourne to Lamborne, where he refreshed his wearied troopers, and then eagerly pressed onwards to anticipate the Earl of Essex and check his pro- gress. He was just in time, not a minute too soon ; for arriving at Newbury early on Tuesday morning, the 19th September, he found the Lord General's advanced guard already in the town, engaged in preparing quarters for the * Warburton's 'Prince Rupert,' vol. ii, p. 290. t The above extract is taken from one of the many original letters discovered at Pyt House, Wilts. E 26 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. on-coming troops of the Parliament.^ Witli scarcely a moment's halt, the leading squadron of the King's troops, headed by the untiring Eupert, confronted the startled Par- liament men, who were ignorant of the nearness of the royal cavalry, but who, perceiving that resistance with so small a force was useless, made a precipitate flight, leaving several of their quarter-masters in the hands of the enemy. Troop after troop now poured into the town, which the Prince secured, and left Essex to the scanty resources of its immediate vicinity. The march of the Poyal Army from Gloucester had been thus conducted : — NIGHTS. MILES. '< Sept. 14. To Evisham . . ..24 „ 16. To SnowshiU . . 16 ,, 17. To Norlich [Northleach] dinner, Alscot, supper . . . . 1 12 ,, 18. To Earingdon dinner, to Wan- tage Sir Greorge Wilmot's, [CharltonJ supper and bed 1 10 ,, 19. Dinner in the field Newbury, to supper and bed Mr. Cox's, and on Wednesday, the 20th, the great battle was struck there . . . . 4 10 „ 23. To Oxford during pleasure 20" Iter Carolimim. Note. — The actual distance from Wantage to Newbury and from the latter town to Oxford somewhat exceeds that above stated. A few hours later, the brilliant troop of Life Guards, com- posed of the noblest and wealthiest cavaliers who had no separate command, with casque and plume and glittering cuirass, came moving on in stately and martial style. They heralded the approach of the ill-starred but gallant King, who, conspicuous in his steel armour, and on whose breast glittered the Star and George, rode at the head of his infantry ; and for the first time during the war entered the good old town of Newbury, a place so soon to be associated with events of the deepest significance in connection with the great national revolution. Lord Clarendon computes the amount of income possessed by this single troop as at least equal to that of all the Lords and Commons [in London] who made and maintained that war. Sir Philip Warwick, who tells us he himself '' rode therein," computes this income at £100,000 per annum, equal, * ' Mercurius Aulicus,' September 19, 164.3. MARCH OF THE ARMIES TO NEWBURY. 27 perhaps, to three times that sum according to our present standard. In the ^'Memoirs of a Cavalier, or, a Military Journal of the Wars in Germany, and the Wars of England from the year 1632 to the year 1648," ascribed to De Foe, the hero of the narrative, said to have been Col. Andrew Newport, in referring to this troop remarks : — '^ As for me, I rode a volun- teer in the royal troop of guards, which may very well deserve that title, being composed of young gentlemen, sons of the nobility and prime gentlemen of the nation, and I think not a person of so mean a birth or fortune as myself. We reckoned in this troop thirty-two lords, or who came after- ward to be such, thirty-eight younger sons of the nobility, five French noblemen, and the rest gentlemen of very good families and estates. And that I may give the due to their personal valour, many of this troop lived to have regiments and troops under their command, in the service of the King ; many of them lost their lives for him, and most of them their estates : nor did they behave unworthy of themselves in their first shewing their faces to the enemy, as shall be mentioned in its place." From a memorandum made by Capt. Symonds, the author of the Diary of the Boyal Marches, concerning the King's army in 1644, we learn that the First, or King's, regiment of Life Guards, and the Second, or Queen's regi- ment, wore red coats. Lord Percy's regiment white, Lord Hopton's and Col. Charles Gerard's regiments blue, Col. Pinchbeck's gray. Col. Aspley's red, and Col. Talbot's yellow coats. The town of Newbury was the pivot, so to speak, around whioh much of the fighting, during the Civil War, in the southern part of England for a long period centred ; and it is to the share it took in this most eventful and important period in our country's annals that its political and historical prominence are mainly due. The history of Newbury carries us back to the time when the masters of the ancient world — the Pomans, were in possession of our island. Frequent traces of their occupation have been found in the town, and the station called " Spinse " mentioned in the Poman itin- eraries can be reasonably reconciled with the adjacent parish of Speen. We may even be justified in supposing that New- bury from its situation on the river Kennet, and the presence of so many. Celtic hill-forts and strongholds in its neighbour- hood, was a place of settlement chosen by the early colonists of this part of ancient Britain. But whatever may have been the origin of the town of Newbury, it was undoubtedly known by its present name at least some ten years before the '2S THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. taking of tlie Domesday Survey.^* The Saxon town of New- berie, which was probably within the area of the Domesday manor of Ulvri-tone, i.e. the town of Ulfrid or Ulfric, fell to the share of one of the Conqueror's followers named Ernulf de Hesding, who founded a Church in Newbury, which he gave with a hide of land and a priest's house, to the Abbot and Con- vent of Preaux in Normandy. In subsequent times, the Manor, when held by the Crown, was frequently assigned, as a jointure, to the queens of England. Thus on the marriage of Henry VIII. with Lady Jane Seymour it passed to the queen as part of her dower, and was granted in a like manner to Queen Anne, of Denmark, mother of Charles I. The latter made over the Manor to the Corporation of Newbury,f in consideration of £50 and an annual pajonent of £20 4s. 2^d., in answer to the following petition for its purchase, appar- ently presented to the House of Commons : J " Et. Honble. That the Mair, Aldermen, and Burgesses might take the Manor and liberties thereof in fee farme. Your honble. House hath bin informed that the said suite is only the desire of some few within the town, and not general, and yet that your honble. House hath bin obliged to admit the said Corporation to comj)Ound for the same, make bold to testifie your honble. House that we specially desire the said Corporation to be possessed thereof before any other. AVee having good experience of their great love and regard for the welfare of the Town and of helping to safe [save] the poor inhabitants thereof in all taxes and payments within the town that they possibly can, and in keeping the town in good order, for which your honble favour shewed to them in their behalf, wee and all our posteritie with many more shall be each bound to pray to God for your honbles. long life and pros- perous estate. William Howes, Mair. Grabriell Coxe, the elder. Thomas Chokke. Eichard Money. William Twisse (Hector). William Grove. Timothie Avery . Thomas Dolman. Eobert Daunce. William Wilmot. &c. &c. &c. *See ' Ordericus Vitalis,' Bohn's Ed., vol. ii, p. 264. t The lands -whicli comprise a portion of the Manor of Newberry, Co. Cork, Ireland, are said to have been granted by the Crown to Capt. Newman, an ancestor of its present possessor, for liis eminent services in the battle of the 20th September, the name of ' Newberry ' being bestowed on the property in counnemoration of the circumstance. X Copied from a contemporary duplicate of the original in the Corporation archives. MARCH OF THE ARMIES TO NEWBURY. 29 Like many other places engaged in the staple manufacture of England — woollen cloth, the town of Newbury was well affected to the Parliament. The reasons are not far to seek. Besides being influenced by religion and a sense of indepen- dence, the inhabitants of manufacturing towns had especially suffered from the monopolies and extortions which had raised the price of necessaries and shackled the enterprise of trade. Again, the Protestant Nonconformists were a numerous and influential body ; and in the same ranks, says Macaulay,"^* were to be found most of those members of the Established Church, who still adhered to the Calvinistic opinions, which, forty years before, had been generally held by the prelates and clergy. Such a man was Dr. Twisse, the Puritan Eector of Newbury, whose teaching must have exercised a decided influence in forming the opinions of the town and neigh- bourhood. Newbury had also, from its position on the great western road, its proximity to Oxford (the King's head- quarters), and the royal garrisons at Donnington, Basing, Earingdon, and Wallingford, suffered perhaps to a greater extent than any other town in the kingdom from the disastrous effects of this unhappy war. Its inhabitants were therefore induced by the strongest motives to espouse the cause of Parliament. The following letters, written by members of each party, will enable the reader to form an impartial view of the proclivities of the people of Newbury at this juncture : — Lord Grandison to Prince Pupert. Marlboro' 8 Dec. [1642]. May itt please your High®^ I know not how well to give credite to it, but there is two gentlemen nowe come from Newberie frighted from thence the lastt nightt by intelligence they had of some of the enemies forces were to come into Newberie invited thether hj the toivnsmen, who have only reported the plague to bee there to keepe the King's troopes oute, how slight soever this may be, sure I am that dis- affected TOWISTE CAN' NOTT BEE TO MUCH PUNISHED BY YOUR HiGH^* for att my coming from Basingstoke they stopped all our baggage and had detained itt butt thatt they hered wee were strong enough to reveng itt. The Sherife of this Countie intends to be heer this day to order some things for his Majties. service, these same are the reasons thatt keept mee a day in this burnt and plundered quarter. -^ n- ■» Erom your High^^ most humble faithful servant, GcRAKDISON. * ' Hist, of England,' vol. i, p. 106. 30 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. This letter, from the Pyt House Collection, appears to have been written immediately after the capture and plunder of Marlborough by the Royalists ("the most notoriously dis- affected town of all the country," says Clarendon). This was the first garrison taken on either side ; when a great part of the town was burnt. Lord Grrandison died from the effects of wounds received at the siege of Bristol the following year. Two days previously the Earl of Essex wrote to the Parlia- mentary Colonels Goodwin and Hurry : — Sirs, — Since I receiv'd your letter I have had information that Marlborough has been 2 days assaulted by the King's forces [Essex here gives instructions to the two Colonels to march with all speed to its relief]. ^' ^ "^^ You have Neivlerry, a very honest toivne, to march to in ye way, where you may encourage forces to follow you, mid it is a very good place to assist you upon all occasions. Your assured friend, Windsor, Dec. 6, 1642, 8 o'clock at night. Essex. Endorsed for Col. Groodwin, Col. Hurry, or either of them.^* Col. Groodwin, on his return to Newbury from Marlborough, gave the following account of his proceedings in a letter without superscription, but probably addressed to Philip, Lord Wharton, his son-in-law, with whom he was in frequent correspondence at this time : — My Lord, — We have had many painful journies since I saw you, but none like that of Thursday, when we missed meeting the King's forces, and only because we could not get out our dragoons till noon. We went then on to Wantage, where were 3 regiments, 1 of horse, 1 of foot, 1 of dragoons, and my Lord Digby with certain ladies, they had intelligence before we came up, which was in dark night, and hasted away, we caught about 50 prisoners, my Lord Jermyn's lady and 3 or 4 other women, Sir Pobt. Lee and his broth''- and there were some thirty slaine, some ammunition was left, which because we could not bring away was spojded. I can write no more to night, the rather because I must be up by 5 in the morning to visit Andover, where my Lord Grrandison is, they say, with 3,000 horse and dragoons, but I hope not so many. I think I shall run away and be with you shortly for we are all most abominable plunderers, as bad as Prince Pobert [Pupert], and shall be as much hated, as when com- plaints come, I am ashamed to look an honest man in the face, truly, it is as bad to me as a bullet. It is now nearing * Tanner MSS., Bibl. Bodl. v. 62/2. MAECH OF THE ARMIES TO NEWBURY. 31 morning, excuse me to all my friends : tlie Lord be with you all. Yours ever to command. A. G., Newbury. Sunday morninge, Dec. [12t]i]. P.S. — Our letters to my Lord Grenl. surely are intercepted. "^'^ In a letter written by Col. Dalbier f from Newbury, and presented to the House of Lords by the Committee of Oxon, Bucks, and Berks, requesting the payment of the forces under his command then lying in the town, it was ordered by their Lordships, '' That some course be speedily and effectu- ally taken for the maintenance of these forces, lest they disband and be lost, and that town [Newbury] ivhich hath on all occasions manifested so much affection for the Parliament, come again within the power of the enemy." J From all this it will be seen that though the town was frequently in the Eoyalists' hands, and the neighbouring Castle of Donnington maintained a royal garrison during the whole of the years 1643 to 1646, the general sympathy of the people was rather with Boundhead than with Cavalier. To the Eoyalist cause it was a place of great military value. Situated as it is on one of the most ancient and important passages of the Kennet, it is a place of considerable strate- gical importance. If occupied by an enemy, it menaced the main roads leading from the west by Reading to London ; and for the Eoyal Army, based as it was on Oxford, its possession enabled them to intercept any movement that might be attempted in the Kennet Valley, while their own line of retreat was completely covered. In addition to this, Donnington Castle, an ancient fortress the strength of which had been enormously increased by the construction of field- works of good trace and profile, further protected a retrograde movement if it became necessary, and acted, so to speak, as an advanced fort on this side of the Thames. The castle was at the time held by a staunch Eoyalist, Sir John Boys, and was situated about one mile north of Newbury, near the Oxford road, which it completely commanded. South of the town, the ground rises gradually to a narrow plateau occupy- ing the area between the Kennet and the En or Wash Eivulet, the western extremity of which towards Hungerf ord was known as Enborne Heath, and the eastern, in the im- mediate neighbourhood of Newbury, as Wash Common, over * Carte's MSS., Letters, Bibl. Bodl. v. 103. For particulars of this service at Marlborough and Wantage, see Wayleu's 'History of Marlborough,' pp. 166 — 9. t Sometimes written D'Albier, Dalbiere, or Dulbier. X 'Journal of the House of Lords,' 8 Jan. 1645. 32 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. which the road from Oxford to Andover and Salisbury passed. It was on this latter portion of the high land that the First Battle of Newbury was fought. So that while the Army of Essex, which had crossed the Kennet at Hungerford, was moving on the outer arc, as it were, to gain the passages of the stream lower down and so reach Reading, that of the King, after the cavalry skirmish just described on Aldbourne Chase, was marching by the shorter chord, and had occupied the town as well as the fields to the South of it before their adversaries had reached the Wash. The option of giving or refusing battle therefore rested with the King, and as he encamped his troops on the night of 1 9th September in the fields below the heights his choice had evidently been made. Meanwhile the Parliamentary General, after the engage- ment on Aldbourne Chase, marched to the eastward under discouraging circumstances. ''We were much distressed," says one of his men, ''for want of sleep as also for other sustenance. It was a night of much rain and we were wet to the skin." In passing through the principal street of Aldbourne on his way to Hungerford, two of his ammunition wagons broke down, but to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy, matches were put to them and they were left to explode. This proved some hindrance to the pursuers, and the Earl managed to reach Chilton without further interference. Here some of his army lodged that night in the fields. Others were at Hungerford. Essex himself quartered at Chilton House."^' The army of the Parliament suffered greatly from want of food and from exposure of the weather, and for three days could get no supplies for man or horse beyond the scanty stock they carried with them. The enemy's force followed them so closely, and the royalist horse were so far above them in * CMltou House, at this time, appears to have been the property of Mr. John Packer, proprietor of Donnington Castle. His second son, John, a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London, described himself in his Will, dated 22 June, 1703, as of Chilton- Foliott, Wilts, It was at Dr. Packer's house at Chilton that the Marquis of Halifax, the Earl of Nottingham, and Lord Godolphin, the Commissioners appointed by James II. to treat with the Prince of Orange, slept on the night of Friday, 7th December 1688. Chilton Lodge another seat in this village was the property of the eminent Cromwellian statesman Sir Bulstrode Whitelock, and here the "Memorials" and other works were chiefly written. He died at Chilton, in 1675, and was buried at Fawley, near Henley-on-Thames, but there is no memorial of him in the church. His widow, Lady Whitelock, died at ChUton, in 1684. lilARCH OF THE ARMIES TO NEWBURY. 33 number, tliat they could not with, any safety send out parties to forage, as their opponents did. By six o'clock on Tuesday morning, 19th September, Essex and his troops again met at Hungerford,"^' where what little sustenance could be obtained was portioned out to the men. The order to march was soon given, and the columns of the Parliament, with the brave Earl leading the van, advanced on their desperate enterprise. The route taken by the Lord-General, who appears even at this time to have been ignorant of the King's intentions, and not to have anticipated his rapid movements, was through Kintbury and Hamstead to Enborne, by the road parallel with and south of the Kennet ; but on approaching Newbury, where he had designed to quarter, he found to his surprise that his advanced guard had been dislodged and driven out, and that the King occupied the town and its approaches. Thereupon he drew his army into a favourable position in the fields screened by the woods at Enborne, and here encamped ; his men, notwithstanding all the perils and trials of a long and toilsome march, being '' full of courage and in no way disheartened at their hard service." Essex himself, it is said, sought shelter in a poor thatched cottage, which is still pointed out as the head-quarters of the Parliament's General. f The " True Informer " contains the following piece of news dated Thursday, Sept. 21st, 1643. '' Parliament was informed by several Clothiers, who came from Wiltshire, to this effect — That the Towne of Newbury having intelligence of his Excellency the Parliament's Lieutenant-General his advancing that way, had provided great store of provisions and other necessaries both for horse and man, for the entertainment of * Hungerf ord Park, with, all manorial rights within its limits, had been granted by the Crown in 1595 to the Trustees of Essex's un- fortunate father, who was beheaded in 1601. There was no house in Hungerford Park when granted to the Earl of Essex, and it is not im^Drobable that he was the builder of the ancient mansion pulled down by a later o^vner, Mr. Dalbiac, at the east end of which were the arms of Queen EKzabeth : a large and lofty room over the servants' hall was called Queen Elizabeth's room. Ly sons' 'Magna Britannia,' vol. i. p. 296. t Bigg's Cottage, where local tradition records that Essex slept, the night before the battle, is a time-worn old tenement, apparently of an age anterior to these events, situate at the foot of Bigg's Hill (hereafter referred to) on the borders of what was formerly Enborne Heath or Down, and in about the centre of Essex's position. The occupier of the cottage states that, in clearing out a well near the spot a few years since, some coins of the Caroline period and a diamond ring were found. A pike -head turned up by the plough near Enborne Schools was presented to the Newbury Museum by the late Dr. Palmer. 34 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. Ms army, of wHcli tlie King's forces having notice, contrary to their purposes wheeled about that way, and got into the Towne unexpectedly before the Parliament's army." Tradi- tion supports this statement, and it is said that many of the inhabitants of Newbury had been sitting up all the preceding night engaged in cooking provisions for the refreshment of the Parliamentary troops after their long march and priva- tions. These preparations were, however, equally accept- able to the wearied troops of the King. Essex found himself in a position of considerable difficulty and danger. It was essential, for his plans, that he should convey his army as far as possible intact to London, and his object would have been gained by avoiding a general action altogether. But speed was also essential, and with ill-disci- plined troops, the inferior equipment, cumbrous artillery, baggage, and supply-trains of those times, the shortest road was more than ever the quickest. Divergence from the most direct route was not only difficult and slow of execution, both from the want of accurate maps or information and the lack of experience in directing the movements of large bodies of m.en, but also from the inferior nature of all the roads save those that formed the great arteries of communication. But there was yet another reason. The land was not so well drained in those days as in ours. Low lands were more liable to periodical inundations, and were therefore more generally impassable to men and horses, let alone wheeled vehicles ; and naturally dry heath or high land, such as characterises the ridge of hills between the Kennet and the En Brook, afforded as a rule more ready and more certain facilities for marching. Hence it was that, even at the risk of a battle, the line of advance was directed in front of Newbury by Crockham, Greenham, and Crookham Heaths on London. The presence of the Poj^alist Army at Newburj^, the posses- sion therefore of all the points of passage of the river in this neighbourhood, and the occupation of the London road, all compelled Essex to execute that most difficult of all manoeuvres, a flank march in the presence of the enemy. Military criticism on the Earl's difficulties seems almost unnecessary. It is evident that to pass by the hostile force without offering battle exposed him to three dangers; an attack on his left flank as he passed, an assault on his rear after he had passed, and the possible capture of his baggage which would move by the best road and in rear of his columns. The first danger would lead to his defeat in detail, for the left wing would have had to stand the attack of the whole of the King's army perhaps before the right wing MARCH OF THE ARMIES TO NEWBURY. 35 could come to its assistance, tlius breaking tlirougli the elemen- tary principle of never offering your divided fractions to tlie blows of a vastly superior force. The second might have been still more disastrous, as the forces not arrayed in battle order and marching along several roads might have been both crushed and routed. The last danger was all important, for without supplies of ammunition, let alone food, large bodies of troops must either spread for forage and food, and become disorganised and scattered, or remain concentrated and starve. There was, and is, but one way of effecting this strategic manoeuvre, namely to place a sufficient obstacle between the advancing force and the enemy, such as a river, which either cannot be crossed, or the passages of which are in the hands of strong detachments of the force. But these conditions were not available, for Newbury was then theEoyal head-quarters, so that the Parliamentary Army could not hope to pass rapidly by, while flanking detachments resisted the enemy's attempt to debouch on the exposed flank. He was prevented from marching by the roads south of the En, probably, both because of the wide detour, which would have given the Royalists time to concentrate larger forces, and, moving more rapidly by the better roads in the Kennet Valley, again to present themselves before him under perhaps even more disadvantageous circumstances, and also by the inferior character of the roads. So it was that the Earl of Essex drawing up his forces between the Kennet and Bigg's Hill, resolved to cut his way through the army of the King, should it attempt to bar his path to London. From contemporary accounts it appears that Essex's camp- ing ground extended from the irregularly enclosed fields on the left, which protected him against a surprise by the New- bury and Kintbury Bead, to Crockham Heath on the left. A natural ravine of some depth sheltered him in front, whilst his left flank had the protection of the woods at Hamstead, and of the Kennet river, and his right rested on the little river En. Here, with the rain falling in torrents, no fire ! no food ! the weary but resolute soldiers of the Parliament remained under arms all night, ''impatient of the sloth of darkness, and wishing for the morning's light to exercise their valour." Essex's dispositions were well made. An attack by the Poyalists along the Kintbury-Enborne-Newbury road might have captured his baggage, and, if pushed successfully, have '' turned " his left flank, cutting him off from the best road of retreat (that by Kintbury and Hungerford), and possibly driving his army back in disorder on the En Brook. To cross this by bad roads and few bridges would have led to the 36 THE FIEST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. abandonment of Ids artillery and baggage, to bis being driven south and tbus far off bis road to London, and would bave increased tbe demoralization and disorder of bis troops. Hence it is tbat bis reserve guarded tbis important road and took post at Enborne, wbile close to it lay tbe strong left wing of tbe main army. By occupying so extended a front as tbat from Enborne to tbe En be obtained otber advantages. His flanks, resting closely on tbe stream and on tbe wooded bead- land of Hamstead Park, were not liable to be turned, — tbat is, tbe enemy could not get round tbem and attack bis flank or rear witbout bis knowledge. Lastly, witb tbe large force at bis command, it was well to utilize as many roads as possible, as at all times movement is easier by beaten tracks tban across country ; and, so long as bis forces were not too widely disseminated, be displayed a sound appreciation of tbe military situation in covering tbe tbree lines of advance by tbe roads, Bigg's Hill — TruncUe Hill, Crockbam — Wasb Com- mon, by Skinner's Green, and Enborne — Newbury, wbicbled bim out on to tbe open land wbere be meant to give battle to tbe King. It seems exceedingly probable tbat, tbougb tbe artillery (marcbing by tbe best road as all wbeeled vebicles naturally would) may bave baited at tbe ''Slings" near Enborne, it was eventually brougbt up to Crockbam Heatb, botb because its advance tbence could be directed by any of tbe roads to tbe front (tben partly in tbe occupation of tbe cavalier outposts) wbicb migbt eventually seem best, and also because, being centrally situated, it would be safer : artillery, always cumbrous, was terribly so tben ; guns were easily cap- tured, and difficult to move away. Tbere, bowever, tbey were not only in safety, but as in all times good artillery positions are on bigb land because tbe extended view tbence enables tbe gunner to obtain tbe greatest possible advantage from tbe range tbe weapon bas, tbe slow-moving guns of tbe Parlia- mentary army were at any rate somewbat nearer tbeir work, nearer tbeir probable point of appKcation, tban down in tbe low-lying road tbat led from Enborne to Newbury. ^H^ffP CarU e^J^. C/r^^ hij . £ycccUcfue > Oc^aeraU^f^ PREPAEATIONS FOE BATTLE. 37 CHAPTER IV. PEEPAEATIONS FOE BATTLE. All Ms arrang-ements being completed, Essex determined to direct his attack against that position of the Eoyalist line on the Wash which barred the upper way to London, rather than attempt a passage through the town. In the stillness of the early dawn the Parliamentary Greneral, favoured by the cover which sheltered his camping ground, got his men under arms; and, riding from regiment to regiment, he told his soldiers that the enemy had all the advantages, " the Hill, the Town, Hedges, Lane, and Eiver " ; but with calm deter- mination they unanimously cried out, " Let us fall upon them ! We will, by God's assistance, beat them from them alll"* and every man prepared himself promptly for the momentous struggle. "And you that know the gain at Newberry ! Seeing tlie G-eneral, how undauntedly He then encouraged jou for England's right ! When Royal forces fled, he stood the fight ! " f The disposition of the army was effected with great military skill. The right, under Major General Skippon was on the rising ground by " Biggs Hill "J ard Hill Farm, extending along the Enborne Valley towards the Wash, the centre on the plateau, and the left in a more northerly direction towards Hamstead (Crockham Heath). The baggage or train was placed in or near what is now the front of Hamstead Park, opposite the Eectory, Enborne, described in the Parish Map as " The Slings," § imder the shelter of the Hamstead Woods ; and here also was their reserve both of horse and foot. * Vicar's ' Parliamentary Chronicle.' t'A Eunerall Monument to the most renowned Earl of Essex,' printed in London, 1646. X Biggs Sill. The Hill referred to by Lord Clarendon and other writers on the Civil Wars as the spot where Essex drew up his army in order of battle. This Hill of considerable length and elevation, is near Hill Farm (in the occupation of Mr. George^Heath) on the line of march of Essex from Kintbury via Hamstead village and Enborne Street. Biggs Hill comprises the portions of land denoted as "The Common" and "HiU Ground " in the Tithe Map. Enborne Heath, Down, or Common, was enclosed about 70 years ago. § Ludlow, in his 'Memoires,' refers to "Slings" as a species of Artillery used by the Parliamentarians. 38 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. It has been said ''there is no sound tliat ever rent tlie air so terrible as the deep silence of suspense before the battle- word is given ; it is the moment when the soul sinks under the awe of something that thrills deeper than any fear"; and during that dread pause at Newbury many a fervent prayer was doubtless offered up to the Grod of Battles by the true hearts that abounded in both armies. They were prayerful men in those days, though superstitious and believers in witchcraft, as will be seen by the story of the death of the witch at Newbury, given in the Appendix. No action was commenced without previous prayer for success ; no success was achieved without solemn thanksgiving, and each regiment had its own chaplain. The religious petitions of the Parlia- mentarians were frequently drawn out to a great length, while those of the Cavaliers were brief and to the purpose. Such was old Sir Jacob Astley's at the battle of Edgehill, who dismounting from his horse, and taking a pike in his hand, offered up the following prayer at the head of his troops ; ''OLord, Thou knowest how busy I must be this day ; if I forget Thee, do not Thou forget me. — March on, boys ! " Dr. Jeremy Taylor, the learned author of '' Holy Living and Dying," is reported to have been present at the first engagement at Newbury, and to have been busy in consoling the wounded after the battle. He attended the King in the capacity of chaplain, and is said to have ' laid the foundation ' of several works in defence of Episcopacy during his service with the army. No sooner had the mists of an autumn morning cleared away, and disclosed the Eoyalists in battle array on the Wash, than Essex, anticipating their tactics, began to move forward to meet the enemy. The left division of the army under his own personal command, marched from Crockham Heath to Skinner's Grreen, and took possession of a neglected position of considerable military importance, a rounded hill or spur in front of the lane leading from the Wash to the Enborne road, from whence a battery could '' command all the plain before Newbury." ^^ The King was not unprepared for active operations, and early the same morning, September 20th, the royal standard was moved forward, and floated proudly on the Wash. Charles stationed his left wing and centre upon the brow of the hill sloping towards Newbury, his right wing resting on the * Lord Digby, in a letter written from Newbury the day after the battle, describes this elevation as " a round hill from whence a battery could command all the plain before Newbury"; tliis is literally the case. In the Tithe Map it is marked " Hilly Ground." PREPAKATIONS FOR BATTLE. 39 low ground in front of tlie town, where it was protected by- hedges lined by Dragoons. "^^ The heavy guns were planted on a roughly raised battery, remains of which still exist, f extending from near the " Gun " public-house obliquely across the plateau, whence they could X3lay upon any attacking column advancing up the hill, and open an enfilading fire on any flank movement of Essex, should he show himself on the brow of the opposite eminence. Whitelock corroborates this view. He states that the King had on his right hand the advantage of the river, and on the left a hill about half-a-mile from the town, where he had planted his ordnance. Oldmixon adds, '' by reason of this disposition the Parliamentarians had no passage to them, but what was exposed to the fire of the enemy's cannon." And that this position is the true one is proved further both by the remains still existing and by the '^ Mercurius Aulicus," which, in relating the King's prepara- tions the night before the battle, informs us that '' The London pamphlets gape wide upon Aulicus for saying the King at Newbury was forced to fight for a place to fight on, still alledging that His Majesty on the Tuesday night had his canjion 'planted on the hill. To which I answer once for all, that their dead bodies left behind on the place the next day manifest the contrary." As in all controversies, there are two sides to the question whether the King occupied the Common with his guns the night before the battle or not ; and in the statements of either side there is a basis of truth. For though the Parliamentary writers may assert, and truthfully enough, that the King had to fight from the early morning of the 20th, in order to complete the deployment of his troops for battle, it is not the less likely that the level ground of the plateau was, at least partially, occupied the evening before. The fact that the bulk of the King's army had encamped, late on the afternoon of the 19th, after a wearisome march, on the fields south of Newbury, shows that at any rate, the front of battle taken up the next day from the En to the Kennet was not assumed until the very morning ©f the great fight. Yet it is probable that the entrenchment for the guns was chosen and * " So called from ' Dragon,' as they fought in air or on the ground, raounted or on foot. Except in cases of surprise, however, they seldom fired on horseback, and never charged ; they were, in fact, infantry with horses, to enable them to make more rapid movements : they were thrown forward to feel the way, skirmishing from behind ditches as they advanced, or covering a retreat in the same fashion : one man held ten horses in the rear, while his comrades, their riders, fought. Their long carbines were called ' dragons ' from the cock being made in that shape." — Orrery's 'Art of War.' t See Plan of the Battle. 40 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. prepared tlie evening before the battle, tliougli possibly it was only partially armed. The scene on Wash. Common this September morning has thus been described in the ]3icturesqne language of Lord Carnarvon: — '^ There, on that ground, the features of which to this day reflect the local incidents of the battle, the two armies were drawn up in hostile array. Could we recall that scene, how different, probably, the features in either host ! On the Parliamentarian side you would have seen the Hound- heads mustering in heavy masses on the brow of that heathy hill, with their steeple-crowned hats and basket-hilted swords, whilst from their dull-featured, but resolute ranks there ascended the hum of some psalm, invoking Grod, as of old, to strike for His chosen people, and to smite the enemy ; or there passed from mouth to mouth the watchword, as at Marston Moor, ' Gfod with us ' ; or in the skilful disposition of their array you might have distinguished the different colours and insignia of each leader and his followers. Here Lord Saye-and-Sele's men in blue ; there Lord Brooke's in purple ; here some of Hampden's men in green ; and there, perhaps. Colonel Meyrick's regiment in grey ; here, Sir Arthur Haslerigg's cuirassiers, who went by the name of ' The Lobsters ' ; and there, the London bands — who turned the fortune of that day, and who, as an old writer says, showed that they could use a sword in the field as well as a mete-yard in the shop — in their well-known red uniform ; whilst in the centre of the host, under the guidance of the saturnine Essex, you might have seen his followers with their orange colours, and have heard the homely cry, with which they went to battle — ' Hey for old Eobin ! ' But if you had cast your eye to the other side of the valley, joii would have witnessed a different scene. There you would have seen the cavaliers and gentlemen, with their troojDs of tenants, retainers, and ser- vants, gathering fast around their standards, in all the pride of strength and birth, and high spirit, their red scarfs flaunt- ing in the cool breeze of an autumn morning ; their spurs jingling, their plumes waving, their long hair (so much abominated by the Piuitan divines) floating on their shoulders ; in one word, with all that exquisite grace of dress and manner which even yet breathes from the canvas of the great painter of the day. They, too, had their watchword, as at Marston Moor, ^ Grod and the King ' : they, too, stood ranged in their different battaba and other difl'erent leaders. Here New- castle's ' Lambs,' as they were called, glistened in their white dresses ; there Lord Northampton's men, in green ; here, perhaps, rode Lunsford, as he is described in the ballad, in PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. 41 his blue rocket, surrounded by bis fire-eating borse ; wbile on tbe edge of tbe bill, under a black banner, edged witb yellow, and bearing tbe arms of tbe Palatine, niigbt bave been seen Prince Pupert's impetuous cavalry, clotbed in tbeir black uniform — black, a fitting colour for tbat tbunder-storm of war wbicb broke witb resistless fury on tbe ranks of tbe enemy." ^' Obviously tbe relative situations of tbe two armies were greatly diiferent. Tbe King possessed immense advantages if tbey bad been properly turned to account. His army was strongly posted between tbe enem^^ and London, well suppHed witb a great store of provisions and otber necessaries botb for borse and man, wbicb, as previously mentioned, tbe town and people of Newbury, on intelligence tbat Essex was advancing towards tbem, bad provided for bis troops. Tbe King's line of retreat was safe, and be bad tbe town of Newbury to protect bim, if be found it necessary to fall back ; wbile tbe enemy was in want and sbelterless, and must eitber figbt or starve. Tbougb sensible of tbe strengtb of tbe position, even tbe im- petuous Pupert advised passive resistance instead of taking tbe offensive ; and tbe King bimself, wbile conscious of bis superiority, resolved to engage only on sucb terms as sbould ensure success. Essex's bopes, on tbe otber band, wlien be found bimself out-stripped in tbe race, were cbiefly based on tbe supposition tbat tbe King's troops were tired and unable to come to an actual engagement, and strengtbened by a confidence tbat "Waller (bis old rival), wbo bad been desired by tbe Parlia- ment to marcb to tbe relief of bis army, would be witb bim tbat nigbt. But at tbis time, Waller was c^uietly lying at Windsor, witb 2,000 borse and as many foot, quite uncon- cerned as to wbat migbt befall tbe Earl at Newbury, as tbe Earl bad been on bis bebaK at Poundway Down ; otberwise, bad be moved against tbe King at Newbury wben tbe Earl was on tbe soutb side of tbe Kennet, tbe Poyalists migbt bave been in great danger of an utter defeat. Tbe anxiety of tbe Poyalists to gain tbe passages of tbe Kennet on tbe road to London is equally evident. Peferring again to Lord Byron: — be says, ''tbe day following, botb armies marcb't as if it bad been for a wager, wbicb sbould come to Newbury first, and it was our fortune to prevent tbem of tbat quarter, and likewise of Donnington Castle." * ' Hampshire : Its early and later History ' ; two Lectures delivered at the Basingstoke IMechanics' Institution, by the Earl of Carnarvon, 1857. G 42 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. On arriving at Newbury,^' the King, finding Essex encamped so close at hand, had no alternative but to prevent his further advance, and without loss of time took up a position extend- ing from the town to Wash Common, where a portion of the horse was alread}^ posted; his front was strengthened by several hasty entrenchments, portions of which still remain, and every preparation was made for decisive battle. AVash Common, before its enclosure and the construction of modern roads, comprised a large area of land now under cultivation on both sides of the Andover Bead from Newbury, thus giving at the time of the battle a much more extended field of operations than is now presented by the existing terrain. There is no doubt that the rapid movements of the Parlia- mentary troops led the loyalists to disregard the very common j)reeaution of a study of the ground. They in all probabihty pushed beyond the town towards Wash Common by the main road leading south out of Newbury ; but the value of the rounded spurs near Skinner's Lane, which commanded the whole of the low-lying ground between the Town and the Wash, had escaped their notice either through negligence or fatigue after their hasty march. BjTon's account fully bears out this view, he states, '* Here another error was committed, and that a most gross and absurd one, in not viewing the ground, though we had day enough to have done it, and not possessing ourselves of those hills above the town by which the enemy was necessarily to march the next day to Beading." The Boyal forces were commanded by King Charles in person ; Lord Forth,! subsequently created Earl of Brentford, being the General immediately under the King. The Cavalry was led by Prince Bupert and Sir John B}Ton, Lord Wilmot acting as Lieutenant-Greneral. The Eoot was '^ ordered " by Sir Nicholas Byron (uncle to Sir John, afterwards Lord BjTon). Amongst the more distinguished cavalier ofiicers holding com- mands at Newbury were the following — Earls: Carnarvon, Lindsey, Northampton, Nottingham, Cleveland, Holland, Clare, and Bedford; — Lords: Bellasyse, Digby, Jermyn, Percy, * The King during liis stay iu Xewbiuy quartered at the house of the Mayor, Mr. Gabriel Coxe. Afterwards when Charles II. who had been present vnth. his father in the last engagement, visited the town in 1663, and went over the battle-fields, Mr. Coxe presented a petition to his Majesty for payment of the expenses incurred in entertaining and providing for the Royal suite ; but he does not appear to have obtained any redress. t This and many of the following names are referred to in the Biographical Appendix. PEEPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. 43 Somerset (second son of Henry, first Marquis of Worcester), Andover, Cliandos, and Molyneux ; — also the Hon. Henry Bertie, Sir Charles Lucas, Sir Greorge Lisle, Sir Edward Waldegrave, Sir Lewis Kirke,- Sir Henry Slingsby, Sir "William Yavasour, Sir Thomas Aston, Sir Anthony Mansel, Sir Michael Wodehouse, Sir Jacob Astley, Sir John Frechville, Sir John Hurry, and Major-General Daniel (commanding Prince of Wales' regiment); — Colonels: Spencer, St. John, Edward Yilliers, Will. Legge, Daniel O'Neill, Morgan, Eure, D'Arcy, Poole, Piatt, Wheatly, Murray, Charles Gerard, Edward Gerard, Eichard or Richaut and Constable ; — Captains : Bagehot (who took the command of the Earl of Carnarvon's troop when its gallant leader fell), Basil Woodd, Panton, Sheldon, Scott (of Sir Arthur Aston's regiment), Singleton, Clifton, and Newman. The following are mentioned as serving in the royal ranks as Volunteers : — Henry Spencer (first Earl of Sunderland), James Hay (second Earl of Carlisle), Henry Mordaunt (Earl of Peterborough), Lucius Cary (Viscount Falkland, whose duties as the King's Secretary gave him no position in the field), the Hon. Edward Sackville (son of Edward, fourth Earl of Dorset), severely wounded in the battle, "^^ Sir John Pussell (son of Francis, fourth Earl of Bedford), Hon. Henry Howard (son of the Earl of Berkshire and brother to Lord Andover), Colonel Eichard Fielding, f Colonel Stroud, George Porter, and Bernard Brocas, with some of his brothers. On the side of the Parliament, the Earl of Essex was Lord General of the armj^; and amongst the more conspicuous leaders were Lord Eobarts or Eoberts, Lord Grey of Groby, Sir John Meyrick, who "ordered" the artillery. Sir Philip Stapleton, Sir James Eamsay, Sir William Constable, Sir William Balfour, Sir William Boteler, Sir Samuel Luke, Sir William Brooke, Sir Eichard Bulstrode, Sir William Springer, J *In April, 1646, being with a party of tlie King's forces at Chawley, near Abingdon, lie was taken prisoner by those of the Parliament, and slain by a Parliamentary soldier. t Previously Governor of Reading, which he was thought to have sur- rendered too easily ; he was tried by court-martial and sentenced to be shot ; but, being afterwards pardoned, he fought valiantly for the King. J Printed "Springer" in the 'Relation of the Battle' printed for the House of Commons shortly after the Fight, but no doubt a mistake for Sir William Springett, who was knighted at Hampton Court 10th February, 1641-2, called " of Laugley, Kent." He was son of Herbert Springett, of Ringmer, Sussex. Esq.; and the Pedigree ('Berry's Sussex,' 33,) says that Sir William died in 1643. If not killed at Newbury, he probably died of wounds received in that action ; but it is not improbable that he died a natural death. 44 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. Major-Gen eral Skippon, Major-Greneral Deane, and Lieut.- General Middleton ; and Colonels Sheffield, John Meldriim, Mainwaring, Berkeley or Barclay, Arthur Goodwin, Norton, Dalbier, Holmsted, Tyrill, Thompson, Greaves, Langham, Draper, Brackley, Harvey, Holbourne, Tucker, White, and Fortescue. CHAPTER V. THE BATTLE. Owing to the close proximity of the two combatants several skirmishes had ensued during the night between advanced parties of each army. In one sharp encounter between a party of Koyalist horse under Hurry and a detached body of the enemy, Lord Percy was cut in the hand and Lord Jerm3^n had a narrow escape, his head-piece being battered about his ears and his eye injured. These attacks on the out- posts continued imtil the long night wore gradually away, and the first faint glimmering of light disclosed to the loyalists that the Parliamentarians were in possession of the little hill above Cope Hall. "^^ Sir John B;)Ton with a portion of the right wing of horse and foot was at once despatched to assault and engage this threatening point, the circumstances of which he thus narrates : — " The next day my brigade of horse was to have the van, and about 5 in the morning I had orders to march towards a little hill full of enclosures, which the enemy (through the negligence before mentioned) had possessed himseK of and had brought up two small field pieces and was bringing up more, whereby they would both have secured their march on Heading (the highway was Ijning hard by) and withal so annoyed our army which was drawn up in the bottom, where the King himself was, that it would have been impossible for us to have kept the ground. The hill, as I mentioned, was full of enclosures and extremely difficult for horse service, so that my orders were, only with my own and Sir Thos. Aston's regiment to draw behind the commanded foot led by Lord Wentworth and Col. George Lisle, and to be ready to second them, in case the enemy's horse should advance towards them : the rest of my brigade was by Prince * In an old terrier of the lands held by the town of Newbury, in the time of Queen Elizabeth, " Copped Hall " is mentioned as having been given for a yearly obit by Robert Long. THE BATTLE. 45 Eupert commanded to the Heath, where most of the other horse and foot were drawn." This advance of the King's right wing, which was nearest the enemy and under his hre, was a movement absolutely necessary to cover the deplojonent of the remainder of the army to the left over the AVash and towards the En. The transference of Eupert's cavalry to the Wash fully coincided with and supported this movement, for they could get there and block the road before the left wing and centre (of foot) could gain the heights. Meanwhile the cavalry of the right wing, unable to operate directly over the enclosed intricate land below the position occupied by the Parliamentarians, was compelled to support the movement by inclining away to the left flank till the open ground of Wash Common was reached and a charge could be delivered. They could find no charging ground before this, owing to the hedge-rows and escarpments which lay opposite the right flank; and even when the right was so assisted by this advance of "horse" on their left, the first attempt to force the hedgerows proved absolutely fruitless. Simultaneously with the advance of Essex's left to Cope Hall, a corresponding movement was made by the veteran Skippon, who pushed forward the right on Enborne Heath, to co-operate with his Chief. The efforts of both divisions were principally directed against the King's position on the Wash, where the storm of battle was especially maintained throughout the day ; and from straggling shots the battle widened until nearly 20,000 men were engaged in deadly conflict. Charles, as previously mentioned, had determined to stand on the defensive and await the attack of Essex, but the uncontrollable ardour and impetuosity which urged on some of the yoang cavalier commanders frustrated his intentions and confused his whole order of battle. Scarcely had part of the Parliamentary right wing shown on Enborne Heath, when a party of the royal cavalry bore down upon them. **Then 'spur and sword' was the battle word, and we made their helmets ring, Shouting like madmen all the while ' For God and for the King ! ' And, though they snuffled psalms, to give the rebel dogs their due, Where the roaring shot poured thick and hot they were stalwart men and true." Song—'' The Old C(mcUer:'' Soon the battle became general, and obliged the Eoyalists to support these advanced troops, leaving their artillery behind them unavailable on the Common: "many 46 THE FIEST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. of the officers flinging off their doublets in bravado and lead- ing on their men in their shirts, as if armour was a useless encumbrance in dealing with the base-born London appren- tices whom they came rather to triumph over than to fight." The left wing of the Parliamentary^ army, led by Essex, and with Lord Roberts' brigade of horse in front, now moves against the Eoyalist force on the Wash. Stimulated by the example of their chief, and charging gallantly up the slopes below the heath, in face of a biting fire of musquetry and grape, they sweep onward up the heights. They are gaining ground ! But at this crisis Sir John Byron, at whose side a few minutes before had ridden the noble-hearted Falkland, now ''stretched coldly in the sleep of death" under a hawthorn hedge, advances at the head of the right wing of the royal cavalry, and, under the fire of two guns at musket distance and a deadly shower of bullets, charges them in front and flank with a determination that even the soldiers of the Par- liament with all their spirited enthusiasm are unable to withstand. Staggered by the fierce onslaught, for a moment they recoil, but it is only to rally instantly and renew the fight with " undiminished resolution." Two regiments of the London trained-bands are now brought forward in support of the Parliamentary cavalry, and cheerfully approach to share the contest ; the remainder of that force meanwhile being hotly engaged on Enborne Heath, with their brave old leader Skippon, under the protection of his formidable cavalry commanded by Middleton. Essex steadily leads his young citizen-soldiers fresh and ready for the struggle "up the hill," who, confident in themselves, and satisfied with the strength of their cause nobly acquitted themselves throughout this well-fought action. The royalists have now received a reinforcement, and Prince Pupert with his daring followers ride to the very points of the pikes. The firmness and intrinsic worth of the London brigade was now to be tested, and not in vain ; for the foaming squadrons of steel-clad cuirassiers came rushing forward, but these dashing troops failed again and again to penetrate those serried lines, which " stood un- daunted and conquerors against all, and like a grove of pines in a day of wind and tem]oest, they only moved their legs, heads, or arms but kept their footing sure." The action here was long and bloody, and told fearfully on the Parliamentary ranks. Charge succeeds charge ! cheer for cheer is given ! Fearless amidst the storm of battle boldly urging on his men, THE BATTLE. 47 is seen tlie gallant King,^' and the Eoj^al colours for a time are borne triiunpliant. But the tide of battle turns, Essex's reserve of foot is near, the cavalry rallv on their supports, the defiant banner of the Earl is borne aloft, f and waving his hat, with cries of " Forward ! brave hearts ! " he quickly re-forms his disordered troops and again confronts the foe. A furious melee ensues. The plumed helmet and the steel cap get mixed together, the combatants close and fight hand-to-hand, but at length the Parliamentary cavalry are hurled back, their scattered infantry are no longer able to support themselves, but fighting heroically to the last are di^iven " to the lane's end where they first came in." The roj^alists follow, but in their victorious excitement pursue too far, and before those who enter the lane can disengage themselves, they are well nigh cut to pieces by the Puritan troopers, who at length have made a stand. And well they did their duty. The carnage was terrible ; and a tradition is preserved in the village of Enborne to this day, that the narrow lane leading to Skinner's Green was so choked with the slain that a passage had to be cleared before the troops and guns could again be moved forward. For hours the fight was maintained with unflinching and uniform gallantry on both sides. Again and again the Poundhead squadrons charged up the hill — and as regularly were they met sword to sword, repulsed and beaten back. It was a succession of determined attacks and obstinate resist- ance, both parties fighting with indomitable ardour, but as yet no decisive advantage was gained by either side. The conflict was now at its height, and the artillery fire of the Poyalists * It would seem that the King took an active part in this battle. Sergt. Foster in his ' True Eelation ' says, "I am creditably informed by those who were this day in the King's army, that the King himself brought up a regiment of foot, and another of horse into the field, and gave fire to two j)ieces of ordnance, riding up and dovni all that day in a soldier's grey coat." In the 'Mercurius Aulicus' (the Royalist journal) of September 21, 1643, it is related that "the Bebels espying from the Hill, that many stood bareheaded in a part of the field, sup- posed the King to be there, and made great shott at the place," and characteristically adds " The Lord covered the head of His Anointed." t The Cornet or flag of the Earl of Esses was — "orange, on it a label, like the King's, [that is ' With G-od and my Kight '] of silver, with this motto iu roman letters, sable, VI RTVTIS' COMES I NVIDIA; the lining of the motto or back, of gold ; fringed with gold and silver, tasseUed gold." (Prestwick's ' Respublica,' p. 24.) It is related that Essex was advised fo leave off his white It at, because it rendered him so conspicuous an object to the enemy. " No ! " repUed the Earl, " It is not the hat, but the heart ! the hat is not capable of either fear or honour! " 48 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. was committing fearful havoc in the ranks of the trained- bands, still not an inch of ground was lost, ''The enemies cannon," says Sergeant Foster, one of the City brigade, " did play most against the Eed Regiment of Trained-Bands, and it was somewhat dreadful when men's bowells and brains flew in our faces. But blessed be God, that gave us courage." It was a trying moment for the London Volunteers, their situa- tion was most critical. Had the gallant City 'prentices given way nothing could have saved them from being destroyed, but they showed the same bold front they had presented at the commencement of the action, ''and were, in truth, the preservation of the army of the Parliament that day." An eye witness thus describes the charge of the King's cavalry on the Blue regiment of trained-bands : — " Two regiments of the King's horse with a fierce charge, saluted the Blew regi- ment of the London Trained-bands, who gallantly discharged upon them, and did beat them backe, but they being no whit daunted at it, wheeled about, and on a suddaine charged them againe. Our musketeers did againe discharge, and that with so much violence and successe, that they sent them now, not wheeling but reeling from them, and jet for all that, they made a third assault, and coming in full squadrons, they did the utmost of their endeavour to breake through our ranks, but a cloud of bullets came at once so thick from our muskets, and made such a havocke amongst them, both of men and horse, that in a feare, full of confused speed, they did flye before us, and did no more adventure upon so warme a service. "J This momentary success was however dearly pur- chased ; the loyalists were not so easily disconcerted. Rupert, who had seen the effect produced by the encounter of the Parliamentary cavalry, came boldly on with "BjTon's Blacks " and Colepepper's brigade to the relief of their com- rades. Nothing could surpass the reckless daring of the Poyal horse. The Poundhead column could not stand the shock of that wild charge. They now lost ground, but were quickly re-formed into solid squares with their front rank kneeling, and steadily awaited the attack. Not till the Poyalist's steel was glittering in their faces, did the rear ranks poiu' in a well-directed volley on Pupert's brilliant cavalry. The charge was repulsed — the Poyalist ranks dis- organised — and men and horses were rolling on the heath in death. But this repulse did not daunt the valiant troopers, and they still fought on in some confusion, though without X ' Life and Death of the Illustrious Robert, Earl of Esses, 1646 ; ' by Robert Codrington, M.A., p. 33. THE BATTLE. 49 any decided advantage. Their leader's efforts were at this time chiefly directed against his adversary's right wing, which was being rapidly pushed forward towards the King's position on the Wash. But it was unavailing; and Essex profiting by the advantage gained on this flank, towards Enborne, obtained a footing on the plateau of the Wash, and was on equal terms with his opponents. It is hardly necessary to point out that the temporary repulse of Essex's left in Skinner's Lane was somewhat due to the series of brilliant charges which were made over the level ground of the Common, excellent for such a purpose. The Parliamentary centre touched the left wing at the point where the lane debouches on the flat ; and naturally when the enemy, driven back into this close ground, had rallied on his supports, the hand-to-hand mdee must have resulted in disorder to the horse and have choked the narrow road with bodies. In fact the check sustained by the Parliamentary left led to the consequent speedy withdrawal of the centre, hastened too by the influence of Pupert's charges, and the battle on this side probably remained more or less stationary without marked advantage on either side, until the advance of Essex's right wing brought greater numerical superiority on his side upon the level ground of the plateau. The following letter extracted from the Pupert correspon- dence"^' more especially refers to the engagement near Cope Hall, and supports the view here taken. This document having no sisfnature, and being apparently a transcript, it is difficult to identify the author, but it seems to have been written by a leading officer of horse in the King's right wing, explanatory of his own part in the action: — "The King's army being drawee up on a Heath neere Newbury, the enemy were discovered approaching ye town. Prince Pupert was pleased to command mee and Major Smith with a party through the town to face the enemy, afterwards His Highness commanded mee to advance with ye party to ye hill upon our left hand, from thence we sent out parties all night, which gave His Highness satisfactory intelligence, and when it was day. His Highness went with his own troope, a party of mosqueteers and my horse to take possession of a Hill [the hill in front of Skinner's Green Lane above Cope Hall], I drew ye party into a close f that contained a considerable part * Add. MSS. 18980—2, Brit. Mus. t A meadow in the position indicated by the writer of the above letter is known as "Jacob's Mead." Some time since, two cannon balls (61b. and 31b.) were found in removing a bank in this field, and are both in the author's possession. H 50 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. of the hill, then we discovered the enemy and there began the service. But before relief could come to the mosqueteers, they retreated, and I drew ye horse into the next close though not without losse both with great and small shott where wee stood, untill in which .time my horse received a shott in his neere shoulder. But ye foot crying out for ye horse, I returned into ye first mentioned close and was very slowly followed by reason of the straitness of the passage, but when I thought I had men enough to dod ye service, I went to ye furthest part of ye said close wheere were neere about 1,000 of ye enemies foot drawne up in order and one piece of artillery, and as I was charging my horse was shott againe into ye breast and faltered with mee, for that, I being out of hopes to do other service than to lose myself, I gave orders to ye party in these very words in Major Smith's hearing, — ' Fall on, my Masters! for I must goe change my horse.' And in my coming I met with my Lord Byron. My distresse at that time compelled mee to desire him to lend mee a horse. I likewise desired ye same favour of 8ir Lewis Kirke, but presently meeting with Sergeant-Major Daniel, major to ye Prince of Wales his regiment, hee lent mee a horse. That horse I changed for one of Capt. Sheldon's of His Highness Prince Maurice his regiment, which I conceived to be much better When I was thus supplied I was going back to my charge, which I thought Major Smith would have had a care of in my absence, as I conceived in duty he ought, I being for that present disabled, but in my way back contrary to my expectation I found Captain Scot of Sir Arthur Aston' s regiment and Capt. Panton of Lord Carnarvon's regiment,^ and some other officers of ye party with neere about 40 men, I desired that wee might goe up ye Hill again, Capt. Panton answered mee that my Lord Lieut. -General [Earl of Brentford] commanded them to stay in that same place, whereupon I sent one to him to know his further commands. In the meantime came Sir Lewis Kirke to mee with commands from ye King to goe looke to ye passe by the river side which the enemy were then endeavouring to gaine [the road, now called Guyer's Lane, leadiug to the Kennet, where the river appears to have been fordaole], bat when I came to ye place I found Sir William Vavasour there with his brigade, which I conceived sufiiciently secured that place. Whereupon I sent Capt. Scot to ye King to desire His Majesty that I might goe to some place where I might doe him better service, which His M^ijesty did not grant." * This ofificer became a Major- General in the King's service, and fell mortally wounded at Cropredy Bridge, 29th June, 1644. THE BATTLE. M This view of tlie result of the fight about Cope Hall is fully borne out by a study of the various narratives of the battle and by an inspection of the ground. The Parliamentary left gaining the rounded hill by Skinner's Green Lane, before referred to, pushed their infantry forward beyond it, to still farther check the attack of the Royalist right moving over the enclosed ground towards tlie guns. A small round-con- toured hill just in front of the latter was gained by the rush above described ; and this advance, reaching as it did the hedgerows of Dark Lane,* would have been pushed further but for the action of the cavalry of the right wing, which, diverted from a direct advance by the character of the ground, now came upon the scene. In fact the Royalist right wing seems to have been roughly handled up to this time. Byron, who gives his own account, without considering what the other fractions were doing, and naturally lays con- siderable stress on his share or part in the action of the right wing to which he was attached, writes: *'The commanded foot not being able to make good the place, my uncle Byron, who commanded the first tertia, instantly came up with part of the regiment of guards and Sir Michael Woodhouse's and my Lord Gerard's regiments of foot, commanded by his Lieut. -Col. Ned Villiers, but the service grew so hot, that in a very short time, of twelve ensigns tfiat marclied up with my Lord Gerard's regiment, eleven were brought off the field * Bj^rou's advance appears to have been over the ground between the boundary-line of the parishes of Newbury and Enbome (defined by a bank and a hedge, and at the point shown on Phm passable for cavalry) and the old road called " Dark Lane " which formerly ran from near Enborne Farm obliquely over the fields below the Wash to the Enborne Road, which it entered by Enborne-gate Farm, another road (Guyer's Lane) leading from this poini- to the Kennet. There was also a lane entering from the Skinner's Green Road below " Cope Hair and joining the Wash Road. Most of these roads have been stopped, and it is now difficult to trace them. In removing the bank of "Dark Lane" a few years ago, a 15-lb. cannon-tall was found im- bedded in the soil. The correctness of the tradition that Falkland fell on the spot until recently indicated by a poplar tree in front of the farm-house known as " Falkland Farm," is extremely doubtful; he certainly fell as the royal cavalry were advancing towards the body of the Parliamentarians, who were endeavouring to gain the Heath, but at this early period of the fight Essex had not secured a footing on the Wash. Clarendon relates that "the enemy had lined the hedges on both sides with musqueteers from whence he [Falkland] was shot with a musquet in the lower part of his belly, and in the instant falling from his horse, his body was not found till next morning."' The hedges on both sides of "Dark Lane" would perfectly accord in position with Byron's narrative and with Clarendon's description. 52 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. hurt, and Ned Yilliers shot through the shoulder. Upon this a confusion was heard among the foot, calling horse ! horse ! whereupon I advanced with those two regiments I had, and commanded them to halt while I went to view the ground, and to see what way there was to that place where the enemy's foot was drawn up, which I found to be enclosed with a high quick hedge and no passage into it, bat by a narrow gap through which but one horse at a time could go and that not without difficulty. My Lord of Falkland did me the honour to ride in my troop this day, and I would needs go along with him, the enemy had beat our foot out of the close, and was drawne up near the hedge ; I went to view, and as I was giving orders for making the gapp wide enough, my horse was shott in the throat with a musket bullet and his bit broken in his mouth so that I was forced to call for another horse, in the meanwhile my Lord Falkland, (more gallantly than advisedly) spurred his horse through the gapp, where he and his horse were immediately killed. The passage being then made somevhat wide, and I not having another horse, drew in my own troop first, giving orders for the rest to follow, and charged the enemy, who entertained us with a great salvo of musket shott, and discharged their two drakes upon us laden with case shott, which killed some and hurt many of my men, so that we were forced to wheel off and could not meet them at that charge. I rallied my men together again, but not so soon but that the enemy had got away their field-pieces for fear of the worst, seeing us resolved not to give over, so I charged them a second time. Sir Thomas Aston being then come up with his regiment, we then beat them at the end of the close, where they faced us again, having the advantage of a hedge at their backs, and poured in another volley of shott upon us, when Sir Thomas Aston's horse was killed under him, and withal kept us off so with their pikes we could not break them, but were forced to wheel off again, they in the meantime retreating into another little close and making haste to recover a lane which was very near unto it [Skinner's Green Lane], finding then they could keop the ground, which before they could do, I rallied the horse again, and charged them a third time, and then utterly routed them, and had not left a man of them unkilled, but that the hedges were so high the horse could not pursue them, and besides, a great body of their own foot advanced toward the lane to relieve them. Our foot then drew upon the ground from whence we had beaten the enemy, and kept it, and drew the horse back to the former station ; for this service I lost near upon a hundred horse and men out of my regiment, TfiE BATTLE. 53 whereof out of my own troop twenty-six. The enemy drew up fresh bupplies to regain the ground again, but to my uncle's good conduct (who that day did extraordinary service) was entirely beaten off." This road was a short distance in the rear of that Falkland Farm which is situated on the Wash,"^' and a tradition that the body on its recovery next morning was first carried to the farm-house is no doubt founded upon fact. This farm- house and Yew-tree Cottage are said to have been the only buildings on the Wash at the time of the battle, and the former is still especially associated with several incidents of the fight in local traditions. The lanes at this period, as we have above noticed, had high banks and hedges on either side, and formed a series of stout defences as well as serious obstacles to the movements of troops, being in many places equal to well constructed entrenchments. In * Heath's Chronicle ' it is stated that '' the left wing of the Parliament and the right wing of the King could not be engaged only in small parties by reason of the hedges." That this was the case is quite clear. The steep embankment forming the western boundary of the parish of Newbury would alone be an insurmountable barrier to the free action of large bodies either of horse or foot. The horse, however, on the King's left found a free passage down Skinner's Green Lane, by which Essex had intended to advance his right, and here it was that the close and sanguinary contest which has been already described took place Lord Clarendon gives the following account of the death of Lord Falkland, who, as has been seen, met his death while charging with the right wing of Byron's horse, in his advance upon the hill in front of Skinner's Green Lane, above Cope Hall. ''In this battle of INewbury, the Chancellor of the Exchequer lost the the joy and comfort of his life ; which he lamented so passionately, that he could not for many days compose himself to any thoughts of business. His dear friend the Lord Falkland, hurried by his fate, in the morning of the battle, as he was naturally inquisitive after danger, put * There is however another building bearing the name of " Falkland Farm," situated on the south of the En near Wash Mill ; but it is exceedingly unlikely that it has any established associations connected with Lord Falkland. The name may have been given it, and probably was, for purely fanciful reasons. The fighting however, as will be seen by the map, extended to this locality, and several human skeletons were taken out of the bed of the En bourne or stream where the mill- dam was constructed many years since. A foot-way over the stream near the Farm is known as " Battle -bridge." U THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. himself into the head of Sir John Byron's regiment, which he believed, was like to be in the hottest service, and was then appointed to charge a body of foot, and in that charge was shot with a musket bullet, so that he fell dead from his horse. The same day that the news came to Oxford of his death, which was the next day after he was killed, the Chancellor received a letter from him written at the time when the army rose from Gloucester : but the messenger had been employed in other service, so that he came not to Oxford till that day ; the letter was an answer to one the Chancellor had then sent to him, in which he had told him, how much he suffered in his reputation with all discreet men, by engaging himself unnecessarily in all places of danger : and that it was not the office of a privy counsellor and secretary of 8tate to visit the trenches, as he usually did ; and conjured him, out of the conscience of his duty to the King, and to free his friends from those continual uneasy apprehensions, not to engage his person to those dangers, which svere not incumbent to him. His answer was, that the trenches were now at an end, there could be no more danger there. That his case was different from other men's, that he was so much taken notice of for an impatient desire of peace, that it was necessary he should likewise make it appear, that it was not out of fear of the utmost hazard of war : he said some melancholy things of the time ; and concluded, that in few days, they should come to a battle, the issue whereof he hoped would put an end to the misery of the kingdom." * The Koyalist accounts of this part of the action are equally detailed, and the ' Mercurius Aulicus ' thus describes it. f " Many of their living have cause to remember how the little enclosed hill commanding the town of Newbury, and the plaine, where His Majesty in person was drawne up (being the first place attempted by our foot by daybreak), was then prepossessed by a great body of their foot, till in their advance of it, ours beate them off into the hedgerows, under which shelter they much annoyed both our foot and horse, the right valiant L.-Col. Yilliers and ten of his ensigns being hurt upon the ground the rebels first stood on, yet though they lost the hill, they kept the hedges all the forenoon, till a fresh supply of neare 200 musqueteers advancing up a lane to surprise our pykes and colours by that gallant resolute charge made by Sir Thos. Aston with his own troope (through a double quick- set hedge), those poachers were dislodged, their fresh supply * ' Life of Edward, Earl of Clarendon,' vol. i, pp. 164-5. t October 14th, 1643. THE BATTLE. 55 routed, and fled before Mm in such haste, that though his horse was shot in the entrance to the lane and drew him by the leg amongst them, they had not the civility to help him up, but let him walk away on foot leaving their pykes and colours to shift for themselves, and never after regained the place. But Prince Kupert himselfe drew down a fresh relief of foot and made good the lane against them, and about three of the clock two small pieces of ours being then drawn up to that hill, ivMch was the placa of most concernment^ and was never quit by us till the King drew off all his foot in a body to JN'ewbury field, nor ever after mann'd by them. This is the naked truth, which for three weeks together they have so loudly rail'd at, but shall never heare mure of it, if now they are unsatisfied." While these conflicts are going forward on the hill, the battle rages with fury on Enborne Heath, where Essex's right wing, heedless of the gallant charges of the royal cavalry, are making a strenuous efiiort to surmount the broken ground that the approach to the Wash everywher'^ presented. Excited nearly to frenzy by reports that their comrades are being worsted on the left and may be cut off from their support, they charge with an ardour which passionate zeal for their cause alone could give. The general officers Skipton, Staple- ton, and Meyrick expose themselves as fearlessly as the com- mon soldiers, and the very domestics, worKraen, and camp- followers rush to the field, and, animating each other to the highest pitch of fanatical excitement fight as bravely as the bravest officers. Almost paralyzed b}'- the prowess of the men, of whom till then *' they had too cheap an estimation," the E-oyalists are straining every nerve to keep at bay the foe they cannot over- come. Meteor-like, Kupert flashes from one point of the position to another, and is always to be seen in the thickest of the fight ; but nothing can keep back his fierce assailants. On they come through gorse and brushwood, in face of a heavy cannonade from the Royalist guns on the heath, — through a storm of musketry bullets flying amidst the darkened air- -and iu a few minutes they breast the western slope of the Wash. " Now comes the bruut, the crisis of the day ! " Old Skippon who had coolly watched the progress of the advance, call on his men to " charge ! " an enthusiastic cheer answers the order ! and wi+h an impetuosity not to be resisted, Stapleton's mailed curassiers cleave their way through the royal squadrons , and gallantly clear the ridge, the remainder 56 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. of the troops pour up the ascent, the head of the royalist column is overwhelmed, and the battle virtually won ! The Ho^^alists' left flank being completely turned by this brilliant charge^ the successful co-operation of the centre and finally ef the left, as the Royalists are pushed back towards the town, completes the victory^ and the soldiers of the Parliament are at length left masters of the hard -fought field, which, in the early morning, they had so defiantly promised their general to win, A final effort was made by *' the enemy," says Lord Dig by, " on a passe by the river " (apparently Gruyer's Lane) ; but Sir William Vavasour with the King's life-guard defeated it with heavy loss. The struggle was however practically at an end, though the ground was still stubbornly contested. It was no headlong flight down the northern slopes of the Wash to Newbury, but a dogged sullen retreat, in which the pursuer dared not press his unquestioned advantage by endeavouring to force the King beyond the line of the Kennet. The losses had been heavy and important on both sides. On Enborne Heath, fell the brave young Lord Carnarvon, who, ^^ emulating the noblest actions recorded in the annals of war," was struck down as he was returning from a success- ful attack. Also the gallant Sunderland, " a lord of great fortune, tender years, and an early judgement," who, putting himself in the King's troop as a volunteer, fell pierced by ** a cannon bullet " while he was gathering up his bridle reins for the first charge. But equal courage, so Lord Byron asserts, was not shown by all of those engaged : he says, " What was done upon the Heath (where the main body of our horse and foot fought) I will not relate, because I was not an eye-witness of it, only this is generally confest, that had not our foot play'd the poultroons extremely that day, we in all probability had set a period to the war, our horse having behaved them- selves with as much gallantry as could be, however, the advantage was extremely on our side, and had been more apparent had it not been lost by another very great error then committed, which was, that when we had beaten the enemy wholly from the ground we fought u]3on, so that not one of them appeared, and had possest ouriselves of it, and drawne off a piece of their cannon, and might have done so by all the rest, had not our foot play'd the jades, and that intelligence was brought us of the great fright they were in, many of them stealing from their arms in the darkness of the night, we then upon a foolish and knavish suggestion of want of powder, quitted all our advantages, and about 12 o'clock at night drew off all our men as if we had been the beaten party, THE BATTLE. 57 leaving to the enemy tlie field which from 6 o'clock in the morning till that time we had fought for and gained with the expense of so much good blood. My Lord of Carnarvon (than whom no man acted a more honourable part in this war) and many other valiant men being slaine that day." It is unnecessary to give a detailed recital of all the various turns of fortune experienced by the two armies throughout the latter part of the action ; but the following extract from Robert Codrington's narrative, quoted by Mr. Forster in his ' Life of Cromwell,' which appears, though somewhat tinc- tured by the feelings of a partisan, to be very superior in clearness to other statements, may be introduced at this point. It enables us to define one or two of the localities. " After six hours long fight, with the assistance of his horse Essex gained those advantages which the enemy possessed in the morning, which were ' the Hill, the Hedges, and the River.' In the meantime, a party of the enemies' horse did wheel about, in a great body, and about three quar- ters of a mile below the Hill fell upon the rear of our army, where our carriages were placed, "^^ to relieve which his Excel- lency sent a selected party from the hill to assist their friends who were deeply engaged in the fight ; these forces marching down the hill, did meet a regiment of horse of the enemy's, who in their hats did wear branches of furze and broom, which our army did that day wear for distinction sake to be known by one another from their adversaries, and they cried out to our men, ^' Friends ! Eriends ! " but being discovered to be enemies, our men gave fire upon them, and having some horse to second the execution, they did force them further from them. Our men being now marched to the bottom of the hill f they increased the courage of their friends, and after a sharp conflict, they forced the King's horse to fly with re- markable loss, having left the ground strewed with the carcasses of their horses and riders. In the meantime His Excellency having planted his ordnance on the top of the hill, did thunder against the enemy where he found their number to be thickest, and the King's ordnance being yet on the same hill, did play with a like fury against the forces of His Excel- * Shown on the plan. t The fields on either side of the Enborne Road. A skeleton of a young man, presumably one who fell in the battle, was found in ex- cavating for the abutments of the Railway Bridge in the Enborne Road, in 1881. I 58 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. lency : — tlie cannon on eacli side did dispute with, one another, as, if the battle was but new begun." ^' Night came on, but still the fight was continued by isolated parties, though it was now more immediately confined to the valley between Newbury and Enborne, which is about half-a- mile in length. ''The glimmer of the matches f and the flashing of the fire-arms served to show each other where the other lay ; " and the contest raged in a desultory way till midnight or thereabouts, when the King's troops finally re- tired, and by day-break had quitted the ground of the previous day's actions. The chief part of the horse crossed the river into the fields on the Speen side, and quartered in detach- ments in the neighbouring villages ; while the foot were drawn into the town. Essex, at the close of this well-fought day, established himself upon the ground abandoned by the loyalists, and his troops bivouacked on the field of battle in a very cheerless state, being absolutely without food. It is said that the night was very damp and chilly, and not a drop of anything to drink was to be had, though the wounded were dreadfully tormented with thirst ; and a Parliamentary journal relates that one officer ofitered ten shillings for a quart of water ! The infantry rested on their pikes, and the cavalry stretched themselves beside their horses, anticipating a bloodier and fiercer day on the morrow. Like Prince Bupert, the Parlia- mentary Greneral was in the saddle all night, and as he rode over the heath while the moon shed an uncertain light on the wide scene of carnage, he ''could not," says the 'Parlia- mentary Scout,' "understand his own happiness in the vic- tory, and could hardly entertain it with a private joy." But the feelings of the man triumphed over those of the general, * By The Sill the plateau of the Wash was meant, by The Sedges those more especially crossing the fields between the Wash and the Kennet, and by The River the Kennet, now called the Old River, the canal being a modern work. It is evident Essex did not cross the river, for Vicars says, ' ' during the whole day our soldiers could not get a drop of water to drink ; and Sergeant Foster in his ' Marching of the Trained Bands, ' adds, we were in great distress of water or any accommodation to refresh our poor soldiers, our men walking up and down to seek for it." In one respect at least the country is little changed since then, for the furze still grows plentifully on many parts of the field, and the "bonny, bonny broom" yet blossoms on "Broom t The Matchloch had a long coil of tmsted tow steeped in saltpetre attached to it ; this was only lighted in time of action, a cock bringing it down to the touch -hole of the piece when it was to be discharged. THE BATTLE. 59 and the pious veteran is stated to have prayed fervently that peace might once more shine upon the land. Glancing critically at the conduct of the action, there is little doubt but that it was more or less of a running fight extending over, at the very close of the day, even the southern suburbs of Newbury, This is supported by the authority of Oldmixon and Whitelock, and also in ' The True Relation ' of a Parliamentary trooper. Bullets, spurs, portions of swords, &c., of the period, have been found in excavating for build- ings in the upper or south-west side of the town, and the traces of the fight are widespread. " It was a kind of hedge fight," says a Cavalier, who was present, " for neither army was drawn out into the field ; if it had, it would never have held from six in the morning till ten at night. But they fought for advantages ; sometimes one side had the better, sometimes the other. They fought twice through the town, in at one end and out at the other ; and in the hedges and lanes with great fury. The King lost the most men, his foot having suffered for want of succour from the horse, which, on two several occasions could not come at them. But the Par- liament's foot suffered also, and two regiments were entirely cut in pieces, but the King kept the field. Essex, the Parlia- ment general, had the pillage of the dead, but left us to bury them ; for while we stood all clay to arms, having given them a fair field to fight us in, their camp rabble stript the dead bodies, and they, not daring to venture a second engagement with us, marched away towards London." ^^ This statement can scarcely be deemed, however, an im- partial one. Whether through an error in judgment or through party bias, it certainly does not express a true view of the actual circumstances, as this and the following extract both show : — ''At Newbury 1st fight, when we beat the enemy upon all disadvantage from the town's end to the top of the hill by the Heath, a wing of Essex, his horse moving gently towards us made us leave our execution of the enemy and retreat into the next field, where were several gaps to get to it, but not direct in any way, yet with the colours in my hand I jumpt over hedge and ditch, or I had died by a multitude of hands : we kept this field till midnight, and until intelligence came that Essex was marching away with a great part of his army, and that he had buried a great many of his great guns, by two o'clock in the afternoon ; near unto this field, upon the Heath, lay a whole file of men six deep with their heads all * 'Memoirs of a Cavalier,' pp. 4250-1. 60 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. struck off by one cannon shot of ours [!] : we pursued Essex in his retreat, took Reading without opposition, made it a garrison, and Sir Jacob Astley governor." "^^ This endeavour to blind themselves to the real facts of the case is not singular in the corres2:)ondence of parties at that time. The casualties of the two armies in this hard contested battle, it would be difficult to estimate with anything like exactness. In Heath's 'Chronicle' it is stated that the loss on both sides together was between 5,000 and 6,000, and that the greatest loss, if there were any difference, was on the side of the Parliament. This engagement is represented by several writers as having been more obstinately contested than that at Edgehill, where 5,000 were slain ; the estimate therefore in the ' Chronicle ' is probably not exaggerated. M. de Larrey, the French historian, states that " 8,000 men were killed on the spot, and nothing but the night could separate these furious Englishmen, who seem'd delighted to shed the blood of each other.,' Clarendon does not give the number of the slain, but mentions — " there were above 20 officers of the field and persons of honour and publick name slain upon the place, and more of the same quality hurt." Oldmixon (a violent opponent of the Stuarts) relates that 2,000 Eoyalists were slain from the time of Essex's removal from Hungerford to the end of Newbury fight, and that the Parliamentary loss was only 500 ! A Parliamentary trooper describes the action as having been ''long and terrible." He writes: — "Some talke of thousands slain e on the King's side. I viewed the field and cannot guess about 500, but the townsmen informed me that the}^ had carried 60 cart-loads of dead and wounded men into the towne before I came to view the place, and such crying there was for the Surgeons as never was the like heard." Sergeant Poster in his relation of the actions of the Trained- bands in the battle, says : — The next day I viewed the dead bodies, there being about 100 stript naked in that field where our two regiments stood in Battalia. This night the enemy conveyed away about 30 cart loads of maimed and dead men, and I think they might have carried away 20 cart loads more of their dead men the next morning." Both these writers endeavour to put the losses of the Eoyalists at their worst, and are not equally anxious to proclaim the loss sustained by their own party. On the Eoyalists' side the following names of officers killed are recorded : — The Earl of Carnarvon, the Earl of Sunder- land, Lord Falkland, the Hon. Henry Bertie, and Sir Anthony *Gwynne's 'Memoirs,' cli. x, pp. 46, 47. THE BATTLE. 61 Mansel. Colonels — Josepli Constable, Poole, Murray, Richard Piatt, Pinclibeck, Wbeatley, Eure, Slingsby, Thomas Morgan, and Stroud. Captains — Pobert Molineux (of the Wood, Lancashire), Wm. Symcocks (Captain in Lord Percy's troop), Francis Bartis, Thos. Singleton (of Stanyng, Lancashire), Francis Clifton (of Westby in the same county), Sheldon, 'of Broadway Court, Worcester, who served in Prince Maurice's regiment of horse, and Bernard Brocas. Lieutenants — Henry Butler, George CoUingwood, and Wm. Culcheth. Algernon Simes, of the Little Park, Windsor, Esq., according to an inscription on the Beaver monu- ment in Wokingham Church, was killed in this action. He served with Sir Pichard Harrison, of Hurst, who jointly with Pichard Beaver, Esq., of Binfield, his brother- in-law, raised three troops of horse for the King, and maintained them at their own cost, Sir Pichard Harrison supporting two troops and Pichard Beaver one. The estates of Algernon Simes and his friend Pichard Beaver were sequestrated by the Parliament, and their fanailies ruined in consequence. Algernon Simes married Louisa, daughter of Sir William Kippax, Bart., of Becket, near Faringdon. It is reported in the Parliamentary Journal, entitled ' Certain In- formation, from severall parts of the Kingdome ' from the 25th of September to the 2nd of October, 1643, that a Bishop was amongst the number of those who fell at Newbury. The paragraph runs as follows : — '' It hath been related that a Cavalier Bishop was also slaine in the said Battell, whose name is Lesley, he had been heretofore a Preacher under S. Pauls, in London, and when he died was Bishop of Kafore \_sic~\ in Ireland." In the ' Mercurius Britanicus ' for the week ending the 3rd of October, 1643, a '^ Lt. Colonell Lisly" is announced as being one of those killed on the King's side. Probably the name of this person may have been confounded with John Lesley, successively Bishop of the Orkneys and of Paphoe, the "Kafore" of the ' Certain In- formation,' but this Prelate died in 1671. There is no Bishop named in Cotton's ' Irish Fasti ' who can be identified as the '' Cavalier Bishop " of the Parliamentary pamphlet. Among the wounded were the Earl of Carlisle, the Earl of Peter- borough, Lord Andover, Lord Chandos, the Hon. Edward Sackville, Sir Charles Lucas, Sir John Pussell, Sir Edward Waldegrave. Colonels — George Lisle, Fielding, Thos. Dalton,^ * Col. Dalton, of Thurnhani, Lancashire. An enthusiastic and gallant royalist, who raised a troop of horse for the King's service. He was severely wounded in this battle, and, dying at Andover the 2ud November following, was buried in the Church of St. Mary in that town, as the parish register records. 62 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY, Gerard, Ivers, D'Arcy, Yilliers, Howard, Spencer. Captams — Panton (fell 29tli June, 1644, at Banbury), Thurston Andrews (died of liis wounds at Oxford), Mr. Progers (groom of the bed-chamber to the Prince of Wales), and George Porter, a gentleman volunteer."^' The Poyalist prisoners taken at Newbury and Cirencester, according to the ' Mercurius Britanicus,' numbered 500, including a colonel, a major of horse, and some other oflB.cers, who were confined in Windsor Castle. Among these was Lieut. Daniel Kingsmill, of Sydmonton.f On the Parliamentary side, the name of no officer of note is given as having fallen in this battle. Colonels — Davies, Bam field, Tucker, Mainwaring (of the London Brigade), Greaves, and White. Captains — Hunt, Ware, \ Talbot, St. Barbe, and Massey are mentioned as being amongst the slain ; and Captains Bolton, Mosse, Stoning, Juxon, and Willet died of their wounds a short time after the battle. The name of ' ' Mr. John Salloway, one of the gentlemen of my Lord General's Lifeguard, who died of a wound he received at the Battle of Newbury," occurs in an Order of the House of Lords, under date of January 29th, 1643-4. This John '' Salloway " was John Salwey, fifth son of Humphrey Salwey, of Stanford, CO. Hereford, by Anne, second daughter of Sir Edward Littleton, Kt., of Pillaton Hall, co. Stafford. His father, Humphrey Salwey, was a member of the Long Parliament. The following entries in the register of All Hallows the Less, Thames Street, London, record the burial of two of the Trained-bands who died of wounds received at Newbury : — 1643 Sep. 28, Robert Maddock, Clotliworker, one of whose leggs was shot off at the battaile near Newbury. ,, Oct. 11, Heiuy Delves, Citizen and Dyer of London, who was wounded with a great shot in both his leggs at the same battaile. Colonel Dalbier, Commissary-General Copley, § Captains * See 'Illustrations to Gramniont's Memoirs,' p. 381. t See MS. Letter, No. 127, Addl. MSS., Mus. Brit., No. 18980. X On the 20th November, 1651, it was ordered that the petition of Lady Anne Crosby, widow of Capt. Peter Ware, ' ' killed at the service at Newbury, be referred to the Committee of the Army, to be taken into consideration." — ' Journals of the House of Commons.' § The 'Mercurius Britannicus ' (30 Nov. to 7 Dec., 1643) says: — " Conunissary Copley, who lost as much bloud as would wT:ite a chronicle of that battle, is now well and abroad, and refreshed, to recruit his veines again with liis enemies' bloud." THE BATTLE. 63 Hammond, Fleetwood, and Pym, and Cornet D'Oyley, are reported as having been wounded. The loss in officers and men was very heavy; and the 'Weekly Account' of September 28th, 1643, bears vivid testimony to this fact. In it the writer says, ''It was a lamentable spectacle the next morning to behold what heaps of bodies and diversities of slaughter in one field this tragedy had compiled, and that the consanguineous foes, whom the sun could never hope to see reconciled, should on his return, with cold arms be observed to embrace one another, and to mingle themselves in each other's blood, by the incestuous cruelty and union of death." Again, Sir Henry Anderson in a letter to HoUis, dated September 25th, 1643, says :—" The sight of so many brought to Oxford, some dead, some wounded, since the battle, would make any true English heart bleed." Of all those who fell on this memorable day no one was so missed as Falkland, none so frequently referred to at these and later times. Ward,^' writing in 1757, a hundred years after the great fight, fully endorses the opinion as to the single heartedness of one of the earliest victims to the Civil War. He says : — '• Maintaining still his secretary's post, Till he at once his life and office lost, Eesigning both at Newb'ry, in the field Of battle, by a fatal bullet kiU'd, As boldly charging -with undaunted force, In the front rank of noble Byron's horse. Falhng among the valiant and the just, Wlio dy'd that day an honour to their Trust." Both parties seem to have displayed great solicitude for the decent interment of the dead left upon the field. Previous to his advance from Newbury, Essex issued the following order to the Eector (the Eev. Mr. Elke) and Churchwardens of the parish of Enborne : — " These are to will and require, and straightly command you forthwith in sight hereof, to bury aU the dead bodies lying in and about Enborne and Newbury AVash, as you or any of you will answer the contrary at his peril. Dated one and twentieth September, 1643. Essex." The King also issued the following warrant to the Mayor of Newbury (Mr. Gabriel Coxe) : — " Our wiU and command is that you forthwith send into the town and villages adjacent and bring thence all the sick and hurt soldiers of the Earl of Essex's army; and, altho' they be rebels and deserve the * 'England's Reformation,' vol. ii, p. 327. 64 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. punishment of traj^ors, yet out of our tender consideration upon them, being our subjects, our will and pleasure is that you carefully provide for their recovery as well as for those of our own army, and then send them on to Oxford. The one and twentieth day of September, 1643. Eupert." The dead bodies were principally buried in several tumuli on the Wash, some of which have become nearly obliterated. The largest mound, known in Borough perambulations as " Bumper's Hill," is situate midway between the parishes of Newbury and Enborne, the boundary line passing over its apex. In a plantation near the large barrow is a circular embankment with an outer ditch, at fii^st sight presenting the appearance of an ancient earthwork; but it was no doubt prepared as an additional burial place for the slain, some of whom were probably buried round its margin. In the year 1855 when Wash Common was enclosed, the levelling of these receptacles of the dead was commenced for the purpose of making a road ; but the desecration was stayed by the then owner of the land. The workmen, however, found indications of the bodies having been thrown in a heap and the earth cast over them, the floor of the mound being the natural sur- face. Human bones, soldiers' buttons, buckles, and portions of accoutrements, bullets, and cannon balls were mixed with the soil which was removed. In addition to the bodies buried on the Wash, it is said, a number were thrown down a deep well, and others cast into ditches and pits. It is evident from the Churchwardens' accounts for the parish of Newbmy that many of those who were killed or mortally wounded were buried in the churchyard of St. Nicholas, as will appear from the following extracts : — £ s. d. Paid for burying dead Soldiers in the Churchyard and "Wash . . 3 1 Paid for Shrouds .. .. 6 4 Burying Soldiers in the Church . . 3 4 4 Many cannon balls, chain and case shot, swords, pike-heads, stirrup-irons, bridle-bits, an amulet of large beads, and other relics have been found on Enborne Heath and in the fields near the Wash. Several other articles from the battle-field, including a musqueteer's cap or helmet, two leathern costrels or wine bottles (one silver-mounted), swords, buckles, spurs, &c., are to be seen in the Museum at Newbury. The ' Par- liamentary Scout' also notices that '' there were divers fine and rich crucifixes found about the dead, whom we pillaged, so that his Holiness has lost some blood as well as the Parlia- ment," and adds '' That of those slaine in the fight of his s^ ecn. ^ XC/'k"^- 'WcKsrt Ccryi/m cyi^ orj^y. S^ 28-' ^CLsJt Ctrmry^atv JtCoL t^erJCe/tnte^ > ^- . . .y. . . ,-^ 7^ SteeZ Cci/i WhitenLan * Base. iVwrc --ZiM« ■ XoD aoTi . THE BATTLE. 65 Majesty's party there were more brave personal men tlian could be picked out of all my Lord's army, that is for stature."* A very remarkable seal has been recently found on Wash Com- mon, near the spot where the Falkland Memorial stands. The seal is of brass, circular, and measures one inch and eight-tenths in diameter. It bears the device of a skeleton, with a surgeon's knife in the dexter hand, and an hour-glass on the sinister side. The legend with which it is inscribed is as follows : — THE SOSCIETY ANT> LOYALTY OF CHYRYRGEONS HALL LONDON. The ^ Mercurius Aulicus ' under date of Thursday, September 21st, the day succeeding the engagement, mentions that the Parliamentarians left behind them on the battle-field '< very many Chirurgions Chests full of Medicaments." The seal above described was probably that used by a Guild or fraternity of Surgeons attached to the City forces. Several human skeletons have been discovered from time to time in the fields below the Wash. Cannon and musquet balls have also been met with in Newbury ; and probably the upper part of the town suffered considerably from stray shot.f The tower of the Church is also said to have sustained damage from the artillery. CHAPTER VI. ESSEX MAECHES TO LONDON, AND TEIUM- PHANTLY ENTEES THE CITY. PAETY EXCUSES. ANECDOTES OF THE BATTLE. THE EESULTS AND CONDUCT OF THE ACTION. The morning after the battle, Essex drew up the remnant of his shattered forces on the Wash, and announced his will- ingness to renew the fight, " if the enemy had any stomach for the field," by the firing of artillery. The challenge not being accepted, Essex, finding his way to London by Green- * September 22nd to 29tli, 1643. t "With the many petitions presented to the Parliament for redress, after the war, and preserved at the Public Record Office, is one from a farmer of the name of Daniel, who states he has a lease of a farm at Enborne at £60 per annum, and that in the first fight at Newbury the mounds and fences were utterly destroyed, the ground laid waste, and the farmer's house and out-buildings battered with shot — the damage being estimated at £100, or nearly £300 according to the present value of money. J 66 THE FIEST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. ham open before Mm, proceeded on liis mareli towards Heading without opposition. From this it is evident how complete his victory was. Had there been any power of renewing the engagement, doubtless the Royalists would gladly have availed themselves of another attack on Essex's diminished battalions. But beaten back after an action which had lasted from dawn to dusk, their demoralization and fatigue must have been extreme. So the Parliamentary call to battle passed unheeded. The spirit of the King's army crushed by recent defeat had ^'little stomach" to try again the fortunes of another day. The army of Essex prepared to fight again, if necessary, to obtain the right of passage past the town of Newbury, but no longer had any such need, Re-forming his column of march from battle arra3% the Earl resumed his movement eastward with no fur- ther fear of immediate interruption. The route taken by the Parliamentary troops was by Monkey Lane,^' Grreenham Common, Brimpton, and Alder- maston. No sooner had Essex and his men entered the narrow lane between the latter village and Padworth,f than Prince Rupert, who, with a column of cavahy and 800 musc^ueteers had unperceived taken up a position in his line of march, fell suddenly on the rear-guard under Sir Philip Stapleton, throwing it into considerable disorder. The horse galloped through the foot, crying, panic struck, *'Away! away! every man for his life ! j^ou are all dead men." But the foot soon rallied, and, spreading themselves along the hedges on either side, poured in such telling vollej^s on Rupert's wearied cavalry, that after a desperate struggle, in which great cour- age was shown by both parties, the Royalists, having no force to support them, were compelled to abandon the attack, and fall back, losing (it is said) in this short and murderous affair something like 300 men. J After this, the final rencontre, * Monkey Lane. An ingenious origin has been assigned to tliis name — that it was a favourite walk of the JMonks at the neighbouring priory at Saudlef Orel, aud hence was called ' ' Monks' Lane, ' ' which has been corrupted into the present unmeaning appellation. A Monks' or Abbot's Walk or Lane is frequently found in the vicinity of monastic establishments, t See notes on this encounter in the Appendix. X The * Mercurius Aulicus ' states that the party sent in pursuit of Essex was under the Earl of Northamj^ton and Lord Wilmot, the Prince being the prime leader, and computes his loss at 100. Oldmixon, fol- lowing an earlier writer, gives Hurry the credit of leading the horse under Rupert, and estimates the King's loss at 80 men, and that of the Parliament at 8. The foot were under Sir Greorge Lisle, ESSEX MAECHES TO LONDON. 67 Essex crossed the Kennet at Padwortli,'^ and pushed on to Theale, where he arrived about ten o'clock and quartered for the night. After a solemn thanksgiving had been performed in the presence of the Royal army for the safety of the King's per- son, " which had been so fearlessly exposed both on the long march from Glloucester, and on the day of battle," the King's immediate care was bestowed on the wounded, who were lying in frightful numbers all around ; every neighbouring cottage, and the old farm house at Enborne,f being crowded with those who had been able to crawl to a place of shelter. Nor was his care limited to mere enquiry, for the ' Parlia- mentary Scout ' 'I of the time states, that "It is reported that His Majesty desired to see the wounded, which, some say, having viewed, he went sadly away." The more severely injured were left upon the battle-field the whole night. The bodies of the King's chief officers, many of whom there was reason to sujDpose had fallen, were first sought for, and, when discovered, it was seen that they had been spoiled and stripped by Essex's camp followers. Charles, whose silence evinced his deep sorrow, ordered an escort of their own regi- ments to attend the remains of their gallant leaders to the town, where they were respectfully deposited in the Town Hall (at that time standing in the centre of the Market- place § ), and covered with the ensigns of their loyalty, till the necessary preparations could be made for honourable interment. II On Friday morning, September 22nd, Essex marched from Theale to Heading, where he was met by a committee of the Lords and Commons, who complimented him on his signal service to their cause, and desired to learn the wants of his army. Here he remained two days, and then moved on by way of Maidenhead to Windsor. The Eoyalist prisoners * Fadworth. Near this place an iron casket, of the time of Charles I., with an iron chain attached to it, was found some few years since. It is supposed to have been used as a military money chest. The relic is in the possession of W. Gr. Mount, Esq., President of the Newbury District Field Club. t Near Enborne Lodge, and in the occupation of Mr. "Wm. Heath. It is still kno^vn as " The Hospital," and is an old-fashioned gabled building, apparently little changed since the time of the battle. t September 22 to 29, 1643. § This building was erected in 1611, enlarged in 1684, the south front " beautified" the latter end of the reign of George II., and the entire structure taken down in 1828. II See Appendix. 68 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. taken in tlie battle were left in the Castle, and so cruelly treated, it was said, by the Governor, that three men dropped down dead in the streets on their release. Essex made a triumphal entry into London on Thursday, the 28th. The Lord Mayor (Pennington) and the Aldermen, in scarlet robes, received him and his troops at Temple Bar, and they entered the city amidst the enthusiastic acclamations of the people. The next day Essex was waited upon by the Speaker and the members of both Houses of Parliament, who congratulated him on his safety and success, and tendered the thanks of the kingdom for his incomparable conduct and courage ; which acknowledgment they had ordered to be inscribed in their Journals as a monument of his valour and record of their gratitude. The Earl used the occasion for presenting several colours captured from the enemy. On one of these, taken at Ciren- cester, was a representation of the Parliament-house with two traitors' heads upon it, with the motto '' Sicut extra sic intus^^ (as without, so within), which being supposed to belong to Colonel Spencer's regiment, that officer and his family were ordered to be exiled from the kingdom ; but it appears after all not to have been the Colonel's ensign. A second colour bore the Harp and Crown Poyal, with the motto, ^' Lyrica Monarchical Another had the figure of a melancholy virgin in whose face were depicted all the characters of distress and sorrow, with the figure of a cross, pulled down by violent hands, lying despised at her feet, with the inscription ^^ Meliora spero^ A fourth represented an angel bearing a flaming sword and treading on a dragon, with the motto '' Quis ut Deusy A fifth bore the French motto '' Courage pour la Cause.^^ Lastly, in the Hall of the Chapel Royal, "Whitehall, is a silk flag bearing the motto " Constanter et fideliter,'''' to which the following account is appended : '' This flag was taken by Bernard Brocas, of Beaurepaire, from Cromwell's army,*' at the battle of Newbury, August 20th * The Parliamentary army is here spoken of as "Cromwell's Army," but at this time the future Protector held only a subordinate command, and was not engaged in this battle. The estate of the Brocas family at Beaurepaire, near Sherborne St. John, has now passed into other hands, and the house has been modernized. The Vyne is an interesting old mansion, and was originally built by the first Lord Sandj^s in the early part of the 16th century, but was greatly altered by Inigo Jones and his son-in-law Webb. In the private chapel, which Horace Walpole described ' ' as the most heavenly chapel in the world," is an altar tomb, with an effigy of Chaloner Chute, Speaker of the House of Commons in Richard Cromwell's Parliament. ESSEX TRIUMPHANTLY ENTEES THE CITY. 69 [September 20tli], 1643. He was taunted by the Eoyalist party with, indifference to their cause, on account of his love for a daughter of Lord Sandys, who held the adjoining pro- perty [The Yyne], and was in Cromwell's army, and stung by the imputation of cowardice, swore in the next engage- ment to take a standard or die in the attempt. This flag was found in his hand after the battle, and the standard-bearer dead by his side." The flags taken by the Parliamentary troops at Newbury were exhibited to public view, the people thronging round these trophies, while the trained-bands and auxiliaries, who had shared in the expedition, related all the details. Every- where, in domestic conversations, in sermons, and in groups formed in the streets, the name of Essex was loudly shouted or silently blessed. It was ordered by the House of Commons that a public thanksgiving '^ be given in all churches for the great success it pleased God to give the army under the com- mand of the Earl of Essex," and it was also agreed that an order for a collection should be made " on the next publick East-day," for the relief of the soldiers wounded in the Par- liament's service. The Eoyalist journal ' Mercurius Aulicus' of October 1st, relates that on this occasion. Master Evans, of St. Clement Danes, preaching before his Excellence, said, " 0, beloved, can you forget the Souldiers ? I say the Soul- diers who have spent their bloud for Christ, as Christ did for them, even their owne precious bloud in Gods cause at New- bury." Lord Grey of Groby, Sir Philip Stapleton, Sir John Meyrick, Sir Samuel Luke, and Captain Charles Pym, mem- bers of the House of Commons, were rewarded with the thanks of Parliament for their distinguished services at Newbury. In referring to this engagement, EuUer, the eminent his- torian and divine, author of ' The Worthies of England,' who strenuously adhered to the Eoyal cause, quaintly remarks : — ''Both armies may be said to beat and be beaten, neither win- ning the Dai/, but both the Tivi-light. Hence it is said that both sides were so sadly filled with their supper over night, neither next morning had any stomach to breakfast, but keep- ing their stations, were rather contented to face than willing to /^/^ 2^ one another. ^' '^ ^' * Many here lost their lives, as if Newbury were so named by a sad Prolepsis, fore-signi- fying that that Town should afiord a 7iew burying place to many slain in two bloody battles." ^' * 'Worthies,' Lond., 1662, pp. 111—112. 70 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. That the "battle was looked upon as grave and serious by both sides is very evident. The loyal historian, Sir Eichard Baker, considers, for example, that ''this was a harder bout then that of Edgehill ; so that neither party having any stomach to renew the fight, they marched away one from the other, both the King and Essex having first sent their war- rants to Newbury and Enborne for the Burial of the Dead Bodies. Essex his aym was to relieve Gloucester, which he accordingly effected, though not without some damage : for Colonel Hurrey with a good party of horse fell upon the rear of his army, commanded by Sir Philip Stapleton, whom in a narrow lane they charged so furiously, that they forced them to a run directly forward through their own foot, till at length getting into the field they faced about, and forced the King's party back again : many colours of the King's cornets were carried up to London, and much reputation was gained by this expedition to General Essex and the London Trained Bands; not that there had been wanting the height of gallantry and resolution (however Fortune fail'd) on the King's side." * Naturally, excuses were made by the Eoyalists for their defeat. Lord George Digby asserted that they were short of powder, being disappointed of a supply of 100 barrels from Oxford. They spent, as it was, four- score barrels during the action, or '* a score more than had turned the fight at Edge- hill." To this " foolish and knavish suggestion of want of powder " Lord B^^^on attributes the withdrawal of the Eoyalist army from the advantages ''they had gained with the expense of so much good blood." Certain it is, that though the conflict was most obstinate, the King's infantry do not appear to have acted well in this battle; and the cavalry, ^hich was by far the most effective branch of the service, bore the brunt of the actual fighting. Nor were the Parliamentarians without their complaints and excuses. Sergeant Poster, of the Trained-bands, a staunch Eound- head, in narrating the opening phases of the fight, says: — "They began their battery against us with their great guns halfe an houre before we could get any of our guns up to them, as our gunners dealt very ill with us, delaying to come up to us. Our noble Col. Tucker fired one piece of ordnance against the enemy, and aiming to fire the second time was shot in the head with a cannon bullet." * ' Chronicle of the Kings of England,' by Sir Richard Baker, knight, 4th edition, London, 1664, p. 570. ANECDOTES OF THE BATTLE. 71 Many interesting* anecdotes have been left of this battle, and though, like all such traditions, they may possibly not be strictly true, they were probably based on facts, and to that extent are therefore worth preserving. For example, it is said, on the authority of the descendant of a man who resided at Enborne on a small farm which had been in the possession of his family for many generations,* that a party of Parliamen'*"arians were regaling themselves in '* Lushy Gully," on the south side of Enborne Lodge, think- ing that they were out of danger, when, to their great con- sternation, a cannon ball passed through the party, without doing any more injury than carrying away a roasted pig which they were eating. Old books relating to the War have many anecdotes; Whitelock in his ' Memorials,' instances two which are note- worthy. He says, '* A passage or two I shall here remember of extraordinary mettle and boldness of spirit. One is of Sir Philip Stapleton (though he would not acknowledge it), that he being with other Parliament Commanders in the head of a body of horse facing another body of the King's horse, before whom stood their commanders, and the chief of them was Prince Pupert. The Parliament Officer desiring to cope singly with the Prince, he rode from before his company up to the body of horse, before whom the Prince with divers other Commanders were, and had his pistol in his hand ready cockt and fitted. Coming up to them alone, he looked one and another of them in the face, and when he came to Prince Pupert, whom he knew, he fired his pistol in the Prince's face, but his armour defended him from any hurt, and having done this, he turned his horse about, and came gently off again without any hurt, though many pistols were fii'ed at him. '* Another passage was of Sir Philip Stapleton's groom, a Yorkshire man, and stout, if not too rash. By this story, he was attending on his master in a charge, where the groom's mare wa^ killed under him, but he came oft' on foot back again to his own company. To some of whom he complained * The late Mr. John Matthews, of Enborne, one of whose ancestors, it is said, was an officer of the Trained -bands and fought in this battle. A sword, rapier, and pair of pistol-holsters, elaborately worked, reported to have formed part of his equipment ' on that memorable occasion, were in the possession of his descendant above-named till his death, which occurred a few years since, when these interesting relics passed into the hands of A. B. Heath, Esq., of Burley Lodge, East Woodhay, now of Faccombe Manor, in whose possession they still remain in excellent preservation. 72 THE FIEST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. that he had forgotten to take off his saddle and bridle from his mare, and to bring them away with him ; and said that they were a new saddle and bridle, and that the cavaliers should not get so much by him, but he would go again and fetch them : his master and friends persuaded him not to adventure in so rash an act, the mare lying dead close to the enemy who would mall him, if he came so near them, and his master promised to give him another new saddle and bridle. But all this would not persuade the groom to leave his saddle and bridle to the cavaiiers, but he went again to fetch them, and stayed to pull off the saddle and bridle, whilst hundreds of bullets flew about his ears, and brought them back with him, and had no hurt at all." ^* This battle was important in two ways. Politically it dis- heartened the E-oyalist party. From a military point of view it gave courage to the Parliamentarians, for it showed that the apprentices of London and the Poundhead horsemen were as dauntless as any of those who wore the Poyalist badge, and could meet even the charge of Prince Pupert's cavaliers with coolness and steadfast valour. Essex did not aim at gaining the town of Newbury. His object was to push past the place and pursue his journey unmolested to London. This he accomplished, although he left the town in the King's hands. The Parliamentary organ ' Mercurius Britannicus ' f boldly ventured to advance that 'Hhe towne of Newbery is a just witness who won the field " ; but this is fully counteracted by the opinion held by the Poyalist journal ' Mercurius Aulicus ' J the following week, that ''It is your Moderator's § own towne, and is a very indifferent judge." * Wliitelock's 'Memorials,' p. 71. t Friday, September 29th, 1643. The ' Mercurius Britannicus ' was conducted by Marchmont Needham, who, educated at the Poor School at Burford, was one of the Choristers at All Souls College, Oxford, and B.A., 1637, During the Civil War he distinguished himself by his political pamphlets, first against the King, and afterwards against the Parliament, so that at the Restoration it was with difficulty that he obtained his pardon. X The ' Mercurius Aulicus ' was written by John Birkenhead, born of poor parents in Cheshire, a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford. He suffered much in His Majesty's cause, being frequently in prison, and deprived of all preferments. Soon after the Restoration he was made LL.D. Elected a Burgess for Wilton, knighted by His Majesty, and made Master of the Faculties, one of the Masters of Requests, Fellow of the Royal Society, he died in 1679 without having, as it seems, made such returns as he might to those who befriended him in his necessi- ties. See Walker's ' Sufferings of the Clergy,' pt. ii, p. 98. § Dr Twisse, Prolocutor of the Assembly of Divines. EESULTS AND CONDUCT OF THE ACTION. 73 Lord Clarendon, tlie Boyalist historian, in commenting on this action, observes : — " Though the King's army had all the trophies of victory, in, and after this battle, as is before related (it kept the Field, and had the spoil of it ; It took some pieces of the enemies' cannon, who march' d off in the night, and were pursued with some considerable loss beyond Beading, where a garrison was again placed for his majesty, under the command of Sir Jacob Ashley, Major-General of the army, an excellent officer ; so that the Parliament was in so much a worse state than they were in the Spring, as the loss of Bristol, and most of the West amounted to ; for by this time Exeter was likewise reduced by Prince Maurice), yet notwithstanding all this, the Earl of Essex, as is said be- fore, was receiv'd at London with all imaginable Gratula- tion and Triumph ; he had done all that was expected from him, with many circumstances of great, soldierly, and notable courage, and the heart and spirit of the Parliament was visibly much exalted, and their impatience for Peace quite abated. '' On the contrary, upon the King's return to Oxford, there appear'd nothing but dejection of mind, discontent, and secret mutiny in the army, anger and jealousy among the officers, every one accusing another of want of courage and conduct in the actions of the Field ; and they who were not of the army, blaming them all for their several failings and gross oversights. The siege of Gloucester was not believ'd to have been well conducted, and that it might have been taken in half the time they were before it, if it had been skilfully gone about. The not engaging the Earl of Essex in all the march over so open a country, was thought unexcusable, and was im- puted to the want of courage in Wilmot ; whom Prince Kupert did in no degree favour : nor was the Prince himself without some reproaches, for suffering the Earl of Essex, after all the horse was joyn'd, to march down a long steep hill into the Vale of Gloucester, without any disturbance ; and that the whole army, when it was found necessary to quit the siege, had not been brought to fight in that Yale, and at some distance from the town, when the King's men were fresh, and the other side tired with so long a march. " But then all men renewed their execrations against those who advised sitting down before Gloucester ; the Officers, who had been present, and consenting to all the counsels, disclaiming as much as any, the whole design ; and all con- spired to lay the whole reproach upon the Master of the Polls [Lord Colepeper], who spoke most in those debates, and was not at all gracious to the soldiers ; and this clamour against 74 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. that engagement was so popular and universal, tliat no man took upon himself to speak in defence of it ; though, besides the reasons which have been formerly alleged for it, what happen' d in this last action, in the relief of Gloucester, might well seem to justify it ; for since it appear'd, that the City was so much united to the Parliament, that it supply'd their army with such a body of their Train'd-bands (without which it could never have march' d) with what success could His Majesty have approach' d London, after the taking of Bristol with his harassed army ? and would not the whole body of the Train'd-bands have defended that, when so considerable a part of them could be perswaded to undertake a march of two hundred miles ? for less they did not march, from the time they went out, to that in which they return' d. But no reason could ever convert those who looked upon that undertaking at Gloucester, as the ruin of the King's affairs." ^" There is little to criticise in the conduct of the action on the Parliamentary side ; certain it is that, desj)ite the unquestion- able valour of their opponents, they were able to carry out their object, that of marching on London. This point must be clearly kept in view. The destruction of the King's army, and the pursuit that should always follow a victory in order to reap the full results of the success, were not necessary here. Essex wanted the right of way and he obtained it. Though the King's army still held Newbury, it had been definitely forced back into the town. The jxu'suit effected by Eupert was practicall}^ barren of results, and cannot be taken as a proof that the King could claim to have won the hard-fought field. If a few enthusiastic troopers could, as they did, follow the plume of the dashing cavalier, the rest of the army could not ; and the barren occupation of the battle-field, which can be the only grounds on which the Poj^alists could base their claim, was solely possible because Essex did not want it. The advance of the weak force by Guyer's Lane on the passage of the Kennet may be looked at as a mere j)etty reconnaissance on that side, and could exercise no influence on the fortune of the day. To get hold of the river line and Newbury was not Essex's object, and no importance should be attached to this afitair. The value of the reserves and their usefulness in checking the counter attack of the Poyalist cavalry on the then exposed left flank of the left wing, resting as it was almost '^ en I'air," in the field, so to speak, is clearly notice- able, and on this side the fight was ably and well conducted ; * Clarendon's ' History ' II. pp. 360-361. EESULTS AND CONDUCT OF THE ACTION. 75 but it is difficult to see wliy the attack of the riglit wing was not more vigorously pressed, A more determined advance by Trundle Hill f would bave taken in flank and soon in reverse tbe line of Royalist guns, already fully engaged witb tbe musketeers and artillery of tbe left wing from Skinner's Green. Moreover an advance in ecbelon from tbe rigbt, tbat is gradually advancing tbat wing furtber than tbe otber, witbout destroying connection and communication between tbem, would not merely bave brougbt bis force across tbe flank of tbe Royalist army, but bave prevented altogether an advance of tbe King's rigbt on tbe Kintbury road, wbicb was always possible and migbt bave been dangerous. Tbe probable explanation is tbat tbe open nature of tbe ground rendered tbe advance on tbis flank difficult against troops tbat could display sucb bravery and tenacity as tbe cavaliers of tbe King. Turning to tbe Royal forces tbere is less to comment upon, tbe more so as tbe details of tbeir dispositions are somewhat wanting. Their left wing seems to have been well posted, and to bave effectually checked the advance of Essex's right ; but it is a question whether tbe massing of all their artillery from tbe commencement so far back on the Wash was advis- able. Evidently tbeir chief wish was to block tbe way simply ; and tbe King appeared desirous of offering a passive resistance, so that the artillery position as selected, resting as it did witb both flanks on tbe slope, north and south of the narrow neck of tbe Wash, across which tbe entrenchment stretched and tbe main road ran, seems well chosen at first glance to fulfil the object, especially bearing in mind tbe short range of the field artillery of the period. But the left was liable to be taken in enfilade from Trundle Hill, and tbe right could be threatened from the cover of tbe hedge-rows of Dark Lane which approached to within musket shot of tbe King's guns. Further, the Royalist account states that they v^ere much annoyed by the fire of the Parliamentary guns on the Round Hill, and it was owing to their position tbat tbe counter attack along the valley towards Newbury was mainly checked. It has been already pointed out that this side was for Essex tbat which was most vital to him. t Trundle Hill. Trundle was a kind of shot used at this period. "Within the area of the battle-field the names of '' Coward's Mead,'* "King's Mead," "AVar-end," "Steel Hill," " BaU HHl," and many other names occur which probably originated from some incident con* nected with the fight. 76 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. It -woiild have been wiser therefore for the Eoyalists to have prevented the occupation of the round spur above Cope Hall ; and this need not have been done, as suggested by them, by the actual occupation of the ridge, but by holding with their foot the hedge-rows of Dark Lane, and placing their right wing artillery, or a portion of them, on the spur to the right rear of the lane, whence they could both cover the low valley towards the Kennet, and at the same time bring so powerful a fire on the '' round hill " as to preclude the possi- billity of the guns of the attack coming into action. In fact, two batteries, one on the spur east of Dark Lane, the other at about the same position as the entrenchment actually occupied, with the left flank well ''refused " or thrown back so as to meet the fire from Trundle Hill, would have made the occupation of the "round hill" impracticable. The right wing battery thus echelloned would have been protected from cavalry attack by the hedge-rows, and could have fired over the heads of the musketeers there, on the opposing artillery when endeavouring to unlimber. Though not definitely stated, the piercing the Royal centre by Falkland Farm, which seems to have been Essex's main attack, must have been coupled by an advance of his right from Trundle Hill, and the greatest credit is due to the King's commander in having been able, as he did, to withdraw under these circum- stances all his forces into Newbury, without having, as is often the case, the two wings separated and driven in diverging directions from the field. Although the charge of the Eoyalist cavalry under Falk- land against the hedge-rows of Dark Lane was a daring and gallant action, it was but a useless waste of life. In all probability it would have been difiicult even for a good horse and rider in the hunting field ; how much more so with the weight of armour and the intense excitement of the charge. The same gallant spirit animated the breasts of those who rode to death up the Balaklava Valley against the E-ussian guns; but the French Marshal's remark that ''c'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas la guerre," is as true of the gallant cavaliers of Charles I., as it was of the fearless horse- men of Cardigan's light brigade. 77 APPENDIX. APPENDIX I. A LIST OF THOSE REGIMENTS OF TRAINED -BANDS AND AUXILIARIES OF THE CITY OF LONDON, WHICH WERE ENGAGED AT THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. E-:Ltractcd from a MS* by Richard Symonds (author of the " Diary of the Marches of the Royal Army ^'' J, entitled : — *' The Ensignes t of ye Regiments in te Citty of London Both of Trayned Bands and Auxiliaries. Togeather wth the nearest Number of their trayned Soldiers, AS THEY marched INTO FiNSBURY FIELDS, BEING THEIR LAST GeNERALL Muster. Tuesday, Septemb. 26, 16i3. Anno pestiffer.e Rebellionis." ** The Red Regiment of Trayned -Bands. This Regimt. was not at ye generaU Muster in fQnsburj ffeilds. Musketts Officers about Pikes Tlie TotaU Came from Newbery on Thursday, Sep. 28, 1643. CoUonel Isaack Pennington, Vsurper Maior, 1643. Colonels Captayne Richard Verner. The limitts of this Regimt- Comhill, Lumbard-street, Fenchurch, thevpp. pt. of Grace Church Street, &c. Lieut. Col. Robt. Dauies a Slop-maker for Seamen neare Billingsgate Srieant Maior Tho. Chamb'laine. A viol'a Merchant, lining neare Lenden hall. 1. Capt. Thomas Player a hosyer and wholesaleman for narrow wares, liuing vpon new fQsh street hill. 2. Capt. Chr. Wliichcott, a merchant Colonel of the Greene Regimt- of Auxiliaries about Cripplegate. 3. Capt. Wi^- Manby, clerke of LeatherseUers hall. 4. Capt. Joseph Vaughan, displaced. ♦ Harl. MS. No. 986. t The Ensigns or Colours of Regiments and Companies, given in the MS. are not reproduced here. 77 APPEI^DIX. APPENDIX I. A LIST OF THOSE EEGIMENTS OF TEAINED- BANDS AND AUXILIAEIES OF THE CITY OF LONDON, WHICH WEEE ENGAGED AT THE FIEST BATTLE OF NEWBUEY. Extracted from a 318* by Richard Symonds (author of the '^ Diary of the Marches of the Royal Army ' V) entitled : — " The Ensignes t of ye Eegiments in t^ Citty of London Both of Trayned Bands and Auxiliaries. Togeather avtii the nearest Number of their trayned Soldiers, AS they marched into Finsbury fields, being their last Generall Muster. Tuesday, Septemb. 26, 1643. Anno pestiffer.e Eebellionis." " The Eed Eegiment of Tray-ned -Bands. This Eegimt. was not at ye generaU Muster in ffinsbury ifeilds. Musketts Officers about Pikes The Totall Came from Newbery on Thursday, Sep. 28, 1643. CoUonel Isaack Pennington, Vsurper Maior, 1643. Colonels Captayne Eichard Verner. The limitts of this Eegimt- Comhill, Lumbard- street, Fenchurch, the vpp. pt. of Grace Church Street, &c. Lieut. Col. Eobt. Dauies a Slop -maker for Seamen neare Billingsgate Srieant Maior Tho. Chamb'laine. A viol'a Merchant, Huing neare Lenden hall. 1. Capt. Thomas Player a hosyer and wholesaleman for narrow wares, lining vpon new ffish street hill. 2. Capt. Chr. Wliichcott, a merchant Colonel of the Greene Eegimt- of Auxiliaries about Cripplegate. 3. Capt. Wm. Manby, clerke of LeatherseUers hall. 4. Capt. Joseph Vaughan, displaced. • Harl. MS. No. 986. t The Ensigns or Colours of Regiments and Companies, given in the MS. are not reproduced here. 78 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. The Yellow Regiment of Trayned-Bands. This Regt- marched 2d into ye feild at ye general! Muster aforesaid and consisted of Muskets . . 506 Pikes . . 448 Officers about . . 070 The TotaU . . 1024 Collonel Thomas Adams, Alderman, he was not at Newbury. Collonel's Captayne Edw. Clegatt. Limitts of this Eegimt- pt. of Thames Street, beginning at St. Magnus Church and reacheth to Bread Street, Dowgate, AYalbrooke, ffriday street and part of Watling Street, &c. Lieut. Col. Francis West, A Silke man lining in Bread street. This West was Colonel of this Regimt- at Newbery. Capt. Edw, Stoning was his Capt. -leiut. there, and shott in the heele and dyed at Reading and buried [there]. Srieant Maior Wm. Ynderwood, a Tobacco Seller in Bucklers Bury. Capt. Rich. Hacket prceded this Ynderwood in this Regimt- biit left them refusing their oath of Associacon and is now in his Mamies Service. Garlicke hill and Queene Hithe Company. 1. Capt. Edw. Bellamy a Yintner at the Rost on ffleetbridge, a ffishmonger in Thames Street neare the Bridge. Capt. Rich. Hacket was Capt. of this Company. 2. Capt. John Booker Register to ye Com'issioners of Banckrupt, Lining in Wallbrooke. 3. Capt. Geo Dipford, a lyn Merchant. a Linnen Drap' neare Bow Church in the Ch. yard, Cheape Side Company agt. the Standard. St. AntsoMns Bow-Lane, &c. Company. 4. Capt. William Coleson. he wtt his Company carried the Statues in the Church of All- hallowes to yo Parliam. A Dyer lining neare Dyers hall in Thames in Little All-hallowes p'ish. tenant to N.E.H. The Blew Regiment of Trayned-Bands. This Regimt. was not at this IMuster but came from Newbery on Thursday, Septemb. 28, 1643. It was the biggest Regimt. of ye Trayned bands 1400 of them at Brainf . or Turnha' greene. The limitts of this Regimt. is Colman Street, The Stocks Lothbury, Old Jewry, pt. of Cheape side. Collonel John Warner Alderma'. Collonels Captayne Thomas Juxon a Sugar baker lining in St. Thomas Apostles, most violent slayne at Newbery in this Manner, his horse was shott by a Can' on bullet in the forehead, being stun'd wth the blow, ran wtii him violently right on into his Matiea Army where APPENDIX. 79 the horse fell dowiie dead, and he was mortally wounded and left dead, but the body of ye Army leaning the place left him too, and by that time he recouered his sences and was carried to London, and dyed wttin four dayes. His estate was neare Godalming in Surrey where he lived.* Lieut- Col. Mathew ffoster. Vintner at the Shipp behind the Exch. put out himselfe, but tooke the oath of Assoc, taken by the Capt. of the Citty for opposing all forces raysed wtliout consent of P. Srieant Maior Owen Roe, a Mercer in Cheape side. 1. Capt. Mathew Sheppard. Merchant, a Sugar baker p'ner wtt Juxon aforesd in St. Thomas Apostles. 2. Capt. fiErancis Roe, brother to Owen Roe, one of these Roes lines in Colman street. 3. Capt. Robt. Mainwaring, of ye Custome hovse. Lining in Aldermanbury. Hath a Troope of horse besides and quitted this Capt. The Red Regiment of Auxiliabies. Colonel Thomas Atkins Alderman. Colonels Captayne or Capt. Leftenant, Geo. Mosse. The limitts of this Regmt. Aldgate, Marke Lane, Tower street, Billingsgate, &c. Leuit. Colonel Randal Mainwaring his shop is In Cheape side neare Ironmonger lane by Col. Towse. Was Colonel of the Red Reg. of Auxiliaries and wth them at Newbury. Prisoners Removed out op Ely Howsb, 1643. S^'ieant Maior Tucker Mr. William Ingoldsby, of Walton in Com' hertf . CI : Mr. Walt, ffarr Essex Mr. John Scriuener, Com' Su:ff. Esqr Carried the Prisoners out of Ely howse to the Ship [on the Thames], Mr. Hen. Wilford Esq. V was slayne at Newbery, Mr. Hopestill Tilden, Jurate of Sandwich. t Mr. Sam' Daniell of Bulmer in Essex Recusant Mr. Tilyard \ Mr. HaU of Horney j Sep: 1643, his head shott off. This Tucker went out Colonel of this Regimt. at Newbery. * Captain John Juxon was buried at St. Laurence Pountney, London, 16 Oct., 1643. He died of wounds received at the Battle of Newbury, being Captain of a Regiment of the Trained- Bands. He was born 10 Feb., 1609-10, and was eldest son of John Juxon, Citizen and Merchant-Taylor of London fson of Kalph Juxon, and an uncle of Archbishop Juxon). He married a daughter of George Langham, Citizen and Merchant-Taylor of London, an officer in the Parliament's service, and left three sons, John, Thomas, and George. t IMr. Hopestill Tilden was baptized at Tenterden, Kent, 1 May, 1588, and was a younger brother of Nathaniel Tilden, Mayor of Tenterden, who emigrated to New England in 1635, and was ancestor of Mr. Tilden who " ran for" the Presidency of the United States in 1876. Hopestill Tilden settled at Sandwich, where he was in busmess as a Grocer, and was for many years one of the Jurats [equivalent to Alder- man] of that Borough. He was buried in the Church of St. Mary, Sandwich, 19th December, 1661. 80 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. 1. Capt. Willm' Tomsoii. Tliis Tomsoii was leif tenant Colonel of this Regmt- at Newberry. 2. Capt. Edw: Hooker. 3. Capt. Lawrence Bromfeild. 4. Capt. Richard Hunt : a Confectioner in Bearebinder lane : slayne at Newbery quondam S'uant to Capt. Ditchfeild. This Hunt was 3(i- Capt. at Newbury. The Ensigns or Colours of the Blue and Orange Regiments of the Auxiliaries are given by Symonds, without any names of officers. Total of the Trained-Bands and Auxiliaries engaged at Newbury. TRAYNED BANDS. Red Reg : S'ppose it recruted 1000 YeUow Reg : Mustered 1024 Blew Reg : Suppose it recruted, and at most 1000 AUXILIARIES. me^ilg. ] Suppose they aU 3 recruted ) ^qqq OrengeReg ) and to consist of J Note.— Until the reign of Queen Anne, every '• Company " in a Regiment carried a " Colour." Those used by the Trained-Bands at this time were of the same colour as the name of the Kegiment denotes : thus the Ked Regiment bore a red flag. The devices on each were diflTerent in the several Regiments. The Colonel's Colour was perfectly plain ; the Lieutenant-Colonel's had the red cross of St. George on a white ground in the first quarter ; the remainder were similar, with the addition of a num- ber of devices, such as a diamond, a trefoil, ball, or other such device, corresponding to the number of the Company. The Sergeant-Major [Major] had one such mark ; the Senior Captain two. and so on. ' History of the Hon. Artillery Campany,' by Gr. A. Raikes; pp. 139—140. II. THE ATTACK ON ESSEX'S REAR THE DAY AFTER THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. It is difficult at times to reconcile local traditional history and names with the probable course of events gathered from other and more trust- worthy sources. Now, near Theale is a narrow winding lane (leading north from the main Reading road) to which has been assigned the name of "Deadman's Lane," and this has been described by several writers as the spot where tliis encounter took place, and somewhat in verification of this tradition, a sword,* portions of horse -trappings, &c., have been found in the adjacent fields ; but a glance at a map will prove at once that this ' ' affair ' ' had nothing whatever to do with the pursuit after the battle of the 20th. * While inspecting the ground near Deadman's Lane a few years since, the writer was informed that in removing a bank in the immediate neighbourhood, a sword had been dug up, and this he was fortunately able to secure. The sword is a straight cut-and-thrust blade, much worn by repeated grinding; the fighting sword of a gentleman, from its lightness and finish. The hilt is of the ordinary pattern of the 17th century. This relic was presented to the Rer. A. Clutterbuck, when rector of Englefield. APPENDIX. 81 It is quite clear that, after having driven the King's forces into the town of Newbury and to some extent across the Kennet, the Earl of Essex would endeavour to keep that obstacle, the river, between him and the enemy as long as possible ; and only cross it to gain the main road by Eeading to London, which ran along the north bank of the Kennet, i.e., on the enemy'' s side of the river, when fairly beyond all danger of being disturbed by the King's troops from the direction of Shaw House. It is well known that Essex after the battle advanced by Greenham Common en route for Reading and London, and it is evident he must have marched by the old winding roads through Aldermaston to the point of passage at Padworth and so by Theale. This line of march would leave Deadman's Lane on the left, and there would be no object whatever in going down it, unless the force had unaccountably lost its way. On this ground alone, therefore, it is improbable that any fight- ing took place there on this occasion. Further, Sergeant-Major Foster, of the trained-bands, says that when on the march towards Eeading, Prince Rupert overtook the army " in the narrow lanes about 1| mile from the village of Alder- maston," and after the skirmish they marched unmolested to Theale, where they arrived at 10 o'clock. Again, the ' Mercurius Britannicus ' * says : — * ' Whereupon we marched toward Reading (to gaine quarters to supply our want of victuals) and when we had marched 6 or 7 miles, the enemy's horse having got an advantageous passage, which ovoc horse endeavouring to cleere, charged them, and in a narrow lane neere Sir Humphrey Forster''s house, part of our foote were disordered neere into a route by our own horse, for relief of which Col. Middleton alights from his horse and draws out 60 musqueteers, which he valorously led up first to relieve a stout cannoneer of ours, who with three men made good his station where he had charge of three case of drakes, against all the enemy's horse, the King's horse were beaten off and 80 slain in the place with the loss of 10 of ours." The * Mercurius Britannicus ' is never very particular as to accuracy in numbers. This is evidence enough that Deadman's Lane had nothing to do with the march on London, as the lane is five or six miles from the village of Aldermaston, wliichis definitely named, t A probable explanation of the finding of the sword and other articles near Deadman's Lane, is that some other fight occurred here during * From Tuesday, the 19tla September, to Tuesday, 26tli September, 1643. t The following extract from the parish register of Aldermaston, tends to show that P>ssex and his men passed through that village, the soldier buried in the church-yard having most probably died on the march. " 1643 September 23, a Parliament souldier kill'd at Newbvry." There are also two antecedent entries (as follow) " 1643 May 13, a Parliament souldier being a German." " 1643 August 29, Wm. Hill, a Parliament souldier." In moving the ground for the purpose of making a vault in Padworth Churchyard some years since, the remains of several male bodies were found promiscuously thrown into a large grave, which, from certain indications, were supposed to be those of soldiers who fell in some affray in the neighbourhood. 82 THE FIRST BATTLE' OF NEWBURY. Parliamentary times — such as appears by the following letters to have taken place the previous month, August, 1643. (No. 1). Letter from the Earl of Essex to Col. Goodwin. Sir, — Understanding from Col. Ven* that som hors heave nowe quartered at Veal 3 myls from Reading, I resolved to send som hors to visit them, wliich CoUonel Dalbeere desired to perform, as much [as] I know I have sent you, by wliich you may perceive it was no great matter for a great body of hors to tack som hors of a brocken troupe that quartered themselves at Wikeham against orders, and if the enemy had not taken the pajms to have carried the leiftenant away I had called him to a Marshall's Court. t I am, your attached friend, Essex. Kingston, 13 Aug., 1643. (Tanner MSS., Bibl. Bodl. v. 62-1, No. 254). (No. 2). Letter from Col. Dalbier to the Earl of Essex. "According to orders marcht from Kingston to the quarters of my regiment at Cobham, and gave orders for the several troops to march to Bagshot, where with Capt. Pym's troop, I arrived about 7 o'clock: the troop consisted of 40 men, in all about 100 men, passed from Bagshot 10 at night with a guide who brought me to SwaUowfield, where I took another guide who brought me to Burfield Bridge, which was a little after break of day, when, and no sooner, did I hear the enemy was got at Theale, which made me the greater dilUgence to get them unaware, which indeed we did, for we found them without guard onely ready to goe away, not knomng anything of our entering the town, there was some 5 or 6 kill'd and so many or more sorely hurt; 26 of horse brought to tliis Castle prisoners, among which is the Captain who commanded, Lieut., Cornet, Quarter-master, and some Corporals, the rest are troopers. My men hath gotten about 40 horses, but very poore, insomuch that in all the matter is no great value. I am both weary and sleepy, and my horses tja-ed, which makes me stay here this night. I shall, however, if it please God, come to your Excellency to relate the business more at large. J. Dulbier. ' ' Windsor, 13 Aug., 1643. (Tanner MSS., Bibl. Bodl., a. 62-1, No. 235). III. THE PRESENCE OF QUEEN HENRIETTA-IVLARIA AT THE BATTLE. It has been stated by some writers that the Queen herself was present at the First Battle of Newbury, but this is not borne out by the foUow- * Col. Venn, who before joining the army had been a silkman in Cheapside, was Governor of Windsor Castle, which was garrisoned for the Parliament soon after the breaking out of the war. Prince Eupert made an unsuccessful attack upon it in the autumn of 1642. The Castle continued in the hands of the Parliament during the whole war, and in 1648 became the prison of the unfortunate King, who, as Heath expresses it, kept his sorrowful and last Christmas here. Col. Venn was one of the King's judges. t The latter part of this letter evidently refers to other proceedings in Bucking- hamshire, in which the Parliamentarians had the worst of it. APPENDIX. 83 ing letters* written by her Majesty, when at Oxford, to the Duke of Newcastle. Harl. MS. 6988, fo. 157. Oxford, ce 23, Sept. Men cousin ce porteur est demeure sy a propos quil vous portera la nouiielle de la victoyre que nous auons eue sur les rebelles de quoy je vous en voye la relation : et quoy que se n'aye pas estte vne totalle desfait neaumoins sest vne fort grande victoyre il est vray que nous y auons perdu quantite de honneste gens : qui y ont fait des merueilles je vous assure que nos gens que jay amene auec moy n'ont pas mal fait tellement que Ion pent dire que nostre amiee du north a ayde a la desfaite je suis sy lasse non pas de mestre batue, mais de en auoir ouy parler, que je finiray en disant que je suis constamant, Vostre fidelle amie, HENRIETTE MARIE E. A Mon cousin le Marquis de Newcastel. Harl. MS. 6988, fo. 158. Oxford ce 7 Octobre. Mon cousin jl y a sy longtamps que je nay reseu de vos nouvelles que je commance a croyre que vous nous croyes ysy tout morts : se que nous ne sommes pas ; sest nous qm tueons le autres : nonobstant les grandes rejouisances faits a Londre II trouent que ils ont perdu leur armee : il y a beaucoup des f ammes des citisiens de Londre qui vienent chercher leur maris a Newbery, disant que Mr. desex leur a dit quila estoit la en garnison : du depuis le Eoy : tout batu quil est a en voye vne garnison a reading et son exselance ne les a point ampeches tout les jours jl vient des forces du parlement trouuer le Roy: jl m'est ariue vn malheur au quel je crois vous prandres part : Watt Monteque est pris a rochester par le parlemant venant ysy auec I'ambassadeur de franco : il a voulu saduanser devant et a estte recongnuet pris : je croy que lambassadeur ne veut point venir quil ne lait encoire : jl y a vn chose que je desire sauoir de vous de vant que de la faire: Marquis Hertford Groume 174 a desire destre 15- 17* 27* 45. | de stoule du King of England^ 22- 50 35- 62- 44' 7' 5- 8. 48. 35. 62. 23. 8. 66. | 5- 63" 189. | quite sela estant jl fault quil 52- 62' 27' 45' 8' 68. | destre. | 22. 35* 63, Goue)"neur de Frince Charles 64- 8. 50. 40- 10- 63- 51' | 5* 7' 239. teUement que il en fault 55. 42' Estre vn autre de F. Charles 8. 48. 45- 50- 8. 62. 41. 17. 62. 45. 50. 8. | au pres 5' 8" 239. ce que Queene vous 260, ne veut pas sans premierement sauoir sy. 63. 35. 63* 48. | la rauoir 66' 4' JO voules 23. 18. jo' 17. 62' 31;. 27.^0. \ se que jay cru auec vous auez pas lamploy que 64' 35' 63 48. | 17- 62' 8* 48. ne se pouroit 33" 17* 48. accorder 17" 11 35' 50" 5' 8* 51. neanmoins : je attandrap vostre responce : et sy deux • One of these letters is partly written in cipher, as will be seen ; and some deciphered words appear to have been intercalated in the original. 84 THE FIBST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. vous tombes days la mesme opinion que moy: jl y a 5" 8* 62* 48. Places autres 33' 23* 17* 11' 8" 49" que je desire sauoir la quelle vous sera plus agreable : nayant rien tant dans ma pancee que de vous f aire voir et a tout le monde lestime que je fais de vous : sest pour quoy mande a moy franchement et comme a vne amie, comme je fais a sette heure a Cliamhellan ou geniilhomme de la Chambre du lit vous: se que \^us desirez 77- ji" i-/- ^o" ^j' 8' 23- 24- i8- 40' S' 35' 62' 2T IT 41- 45' 28' 23. 31' 3S' 42' 44' 7' 5' 8- 24' ly 11-31' 19' 43' ^3' 50' 7' 5' ^2' 24' 28' 4S' sy jauois voulu aler par seremonies je vous lorois fait escrixe par vn autre : niais sela est bon la ou jl nia pas vne estime comme jay de vous: et comme se sy est escrit auec franchise je demande vne responce de mes me : et que vous me croyes comme je suis veiitablement et constamment, Vostre fideUe et bien bonne amie, HENRIETTE MAEIE E. A Mon cousin le Marquis de Newcastel. The Marquis of Newcastle was at this time in the North, and a few days previously writes as below to Prince Eupert, congratulating him on his (questionable) success at Newbury : — "May it please your Highness. God give you joy of your late great victory, which I am conjadent the rebels will never recover : so that upon the matter one may salute the King, King again, and only by your hand, Sir, * * * * Your Highness' s most faithful obliged servant, W. Newcastle. '' Cottingham, 6 Oct., 1643." In the ' True Eelation of the Late Battel neere Newbury,' the Prince of Wales is also reported to have been present at the fight, but he had been probably sent ofE with an escort from Faringdon to Oxford, where the Queen, his mother, was then staying. lY. A CASE OF WITCH-MUEDEE AT NEWBUEY. [It is only for the eake of illustrating the thoughts and actions of the times referred to, that the following account of a heartless and superstitious murder is here given, with the grossly illiterate form retaine t, in which the brutality, credulity and ignorance of the day produced it as a catchpenny sheet for the vulgar.] "A MOST *' CEBTAUr STRANGE AND TRUE DISCOVERY OF A "WITCH " Being taken by some of. the Parliamentary Forces, as she was sliding " On a small planck board and sayling on it over the Eiver at Newbery, ** Together with the strange and true manner of her death, with the propheticall "Words and Speeches she used at the same time. Printed by John Hammond 1643. [A very rough woodcut of the conventional " witch " is printed with the title.] "Many are in the belief that this silly sex of " Woman can by no meanes attaine to that so vile and dammed a prartico of sorcery and Witchcraft in regard to their illeterateness and want of learning, which APPENDIX. 85 many Men of greate learning have become. Adam by temptatation toucht and tasted the deceiving apple so some high learn' d and read, by the same Tempter that deceived him hath bin ensnared to contract with the Devil as for example in the instancing a few English, Bacon of Oxford, Vandermast of HoUande, Bungy of Germany, Fostus of the same place, Franciscus the English monke of Bery, Doctor Blackleach and divars, others that were tedious to relate of, but how weake Woman should attain unto it many are incredible of the same and many too are opposite of opinion gainst the same, that giving a possi- bility to their doubtings that the malice and inveterate malice of a woman entirely devoted to her revengefull wrath frequenting desolate and desart places and giving way unto their wicked temptation may have commune with that world roaring Lion and covenant and contract upon condition, the like hath in divars places and tymes been tried at the assises of Lancaster, Carlile, Buckingham and elsewhere, but to come to the intended relation of this "Witch's and Sorceresse's doings as is manifestly and credibly related by Gentlemen, Commanders and Captaines of the Earle of Essex his Army, ' ' A part of the Army marching thro' Newbery some of the Souldiers being scattered by reason of theyre loytering by the way in gathering Nuts, Apples, Plummes, Black berries and the like, one of them by chance in climbing up a Tree being pursued by his fellows or Comrade in Waggish Merriment jesting one with another espied on the river being there adjacent a tall lean slender Woman as he supposed to his amasement and great terrour treading of the water with her f eete with as much ease and firmnesse as if one should walk or trample on the earth, wherewith he softly calls and beck'ned to his fellows to behold it and with all possible speed that could be to obscui-e them from her sight, who as conveniently as they could they did observe, this could be no little amasement unto them you may think to see a Woman dance upon the water, nor could all their sights be deluded, though perhaps one might, but arriving nearer to the Shore they could perceive there was a planck or deale overshadowed with a little shallow water that she stood upon which did beare her up, anon rode by some of the Com- manders who were eye-witnesses as much as they and were as much astonished as they could be, still too and fro she fleeted on the water, the boord standing firm about upright, indeed I have both heerd and read of many that in tempests and on Elvers by casualty have become ship-wrack'd or cast over-boord where catch'g empty Barrells, rudder^, boords or plancks have made good shift by the assisting providence of God to get on shore, but not in this woman kind, when as little think- ing who perceived her tricks, or that she did imagine that they were the last she should ever show, as we have heard the Swan sings before her death, at last having been sufficiently upon the water he that deceived her alway, did so then, blinding her that she could not see at her landing the ambush that was laid for her, coming upon the shore she gave the boord a push, which they plainly perceived and crossed the river, they searched after her, but could not find her she being landed. The Commanders beholding her gave orders to lay hold on her and bring her to them straight, the which some were f eerfull, but some being more valorous than other some, boldly went to her tmd Biesed upon her by the amies demanding what she was, but the woman no whit replying any words unto them they brought her to the Com- manders to whom, tho' mightily she was urged she did reply as little, so consulting with themselves what should be done to her, it being so apparently appear' d she was a Witch, being lothe to let her goe an§, as ■'^'f^-. 86 THE FIEST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. loth to carry her with them, so they resolved with themselves to make a shot at her, and gave orders to a couple of their Souldiers that were approv'd good marksmen to charge and shoot her strait, which they purposed to doe, so setting her strait again a Mud Banke or wall two of the Souldiers according to their command made ready when having taken aime, gave fire and shot at her, as thinking sure they had sped her, but with a deriding and loud laughter at them she caught theyre bullets in her hands and shewed them, which was stronger testimony than the water that she was the same that their imagination thought her so to be, so resolving with themselves if either fire or sword or halter were sufficient to make an end of her, one let his Carbine close to her breast, where discharging, the bullett back rebound' d like a ball and narrowly it missed his face that was the shooter, this so inraged the Gentlemen that one drew out his sword and manfully [!] ran at her with all the force his strength had power to make, but it prevayled no more than did the shot, the Woman still, tho' speechless, yet in a most contemptible way of scorn still laughing at them, which did the more exhauste their furie against her life, yet one amongst them had heerd that piercing the temples of the head it would prevayl against the strongest sorcery and quell the force of Withcraft., which was allowyd for trial, the Woman hearing tliis knew that the Devil had left her and her power was gone, whereupon she began aloud to cry and roare, tearing her haire and making piteous moan, which in these words expressed were. And is it come to passe that I must dye indeed, why then his Excellencie the Earle of Essex shall be fortunate and win the field, after which no more words could be got from her, wherewith they immediately discharged a Pistoll uiiderneathe her eare at which she strait sunk do^wiie and dj^ed, lea\ang her legacy of a detested carcasse to the wormes, her soule we ought not to judge of, though the evills of her wicked life can scape no censure. Finis." V. THE DISCOVERY OF THE COFFIN AND REMAINS OF THE VAULT OF ROBERT DEVEREUX, THIRD EARL OF ESSEX, IN THE CHAPEL OF St. JOHN THE BAPTIST IN WESTillNSTER ABBEY, JUNE, 1879.* The only entry of this burial in the Register of Westminster Abbey says that the Earl of Essex was buried ''in St. John Bap. Chapel in a vault on the right side of the Earl of Exeter's monument, 19 Oct. 1646." There is also a memorandum that a certain burial took place *' neare ye Earle of Essex." Probably no monument to him was erected, for there is no note of one. The memorandum of 1685, quoted above, renders it very probable, however, that his gravestone then existed. This obscurity has always been unsatisfactory ; but no attempt to throw light on the subject has ever been made until the present year, • From an account of the operations which led to this discovery, prepared by Mr. Henry Poole, Master Mason of Westminster Abbey. Inserted with the courteous approval of the late Dean Stanley, D.D. APPENDIX. 87 when a descendant of the Deverens family proposed to Dean Stanley to have an examination in St. John the Baptist's Chapel. The existence of a vault having been inferred from the memoranda, it was thought there would be but little difficulty in finding it ; and, under the order of the Dean, the search was made early in June. It began in the ground south of the Exeter tomb, where there was found the wall of the vault built by Baron Hunsdon, now partly imder the Exeter tomb ; and southward was found the marble coffin of an Abbot of the fifteenth century. The south-west corner of the Chapel was found to be filled with coffins, laid side by side and in piles, without any sign of a vault. As regards the Earl's burial all this labour was fruitless, and with a feeling of disappointment the search was hopelessly given up. On returning to the Chapel the next day for the purpose of closing all up, there was seen the angle of a lead coffin, which lay low down in the earth, at the extreme south-west corner of the area. It aj)peared to be a coffin of more than usual importance from the form of the soldering of the sheet-lead. The earth above the coffin was cellular and loose, and so allowed the hand to pass through towards the place of the coffin-plate. This was done, and a loose plate was felt and brought out. On iDartially clearing off the corrosion, the name of Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, was seen, and the discovery was achieved. The coffin had the appearance of being one of a number of common burials, and without a vault ; but its position at the very bottom induced further examination. Then it became evident that the coffin had been once enclosed in a beautifully wrought vault of stone, which had been, not many years afterwards, wholly demolished to give room for interments over the coffin and by the north side of it. The coffin lay on the original stone floor of the vault, and it seemed never to have been disturbed. Besides the floor, there remained a part of the south wall, but all the other three walls and the arch over them had disappeared. After the disheartening abandonment of the search on the previous day, the pleasure arising from its successful resumption may be conceived. The brass inscription-plate of the coffin was now flattened and attached to a small slab of marble, and laid on its place on the coffin. The Dean directed the coffin to be enclosed within a new vault of stone, utilizing what remained of the old vault, and finally, that on the top of the covering should be laid a slab of marble thus inscribed : — " This vault, shattered by later interments, was opened for the purpose of ascertaining the grave of the Earl of Essex, in June, 1879, and was then restored." The vault was formerly and finally closed on the 19th June, in the presence of the Dean, Mr. Evelyn P. Shirley, of Lower Ettington, near Stratford-on-Avon, Mr. Knight Watson, secretary of the Royal Society of Antiquaries, and Mr. Doyne C. Bell, secretary to the Privy Purse. From the nature of the fine white Purbeck marble gravestone which lay over the vault of the Earl, it is thought to be his original stone, once engraved with his inscription, and referred to in the memorandum of 1685. In 1710 was buried the wooden coffin which was found pressing on the Earl's coffin, and then, perhaps, the vault was de- molished, and the Earl's inscription was smoothed out and superseded by that of "Mary Kendal." All this seemed to warrant the erasure of 88 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. the inscription of that lady, and its renewal in smaller characters below the middle of the slab. The iixDper part of the marble slab is now occupied by the inscription and the shield of arms of the Earl's coffin-plate, of wMch it is a fac- simile, but twice-and-a-half larger. The vault of the Earl has been spoken of as one of excellent work. Its construction, shape, and finish are very much like those of the beautiful vault which King Henry VII. built for his Queen Elizabeth of York, under their magnificent tomb. It may be well to note here that the entry quoted in the first sentence of tills notice is erroneous. The loublic prints of the day give the date of the funeral "on Monday, 22nd October," whereas the Abbey Register says "October 19." Such errors are not infrequent in that Register.* VI. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF OFFICERS AND OTHERS MENTIONED IN CONNECTION WITH THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. §1. ROYALIST OFFICERS. Patrick Ruthven, Earl of Forth. Great -gTandson of William, first Lord Ruthven, ancestor of the Earls of Go"\\T.ie, by his second wife, Christian Forbes. Created an English peer with the title of the Earl of Brentford, 27th May, 1644 ; had been made Field-marshal by the King at Coventry, and succeeded Lord Lindsey as General -in -chief after the battle of Edgehill . ' 'An experienced commander, ' ' says Sir Pliilip Warwick, "and a man of naturall courage, and purely a soldier, and of a most loyall heart (which he had many occasions to shew, before the war was ended, and which his Country-men remembred, for they used both Mm and his Widow with all extremity aftei-wards)." He had seen service in Sweden under Gustavus Adolphus, in Denmark, Russia, Livonia, Lithuania, Poland, Prussia, and Germany. In England alone the number of his wounds had equalled that of the battles in which he had exposed himself. "At Edgehill," says Lloyd, "he modelled the fight." He was at Brentford and Gloucester, in both the fights at Newbury, at Cheriton, and at Cropredy Bridge, near Banbury. He had been shot in the head, in both arms, the mouth, leg, and shoulder ; and, as if all this had not been enough for liis scars and his story, the catalogue was finished by a fall from his horse that broke his shoulder. He survived to wait upon Charles II. in exile ; and, returning to his native country, died near Dundee in 1651, and was buried in the parish church of Monifieth. By his wife Clara Barnard, who survived until 1679, he left three daughters, the eldest of whom married a gallant cavalier, Thomas Ogilvy (second son of the first Earl of AirUe), who was killed at Inverlochy, under * On submitting the foregoing to the late Colonel Chester, the Editor of the ' West- minster Abbey Registers,' he could not accept Mr. Poole's conclusion, but was inclined to maintain the accuracy of the entry in the Register. He pointed out that in the year 1646, the 22nd of October did not fall on Monday, but on Thursday ; while the 19th was really Monday, and that, as the "public prints of the day " were cer- tainly wrong either as to the day of the month or the week, the balance of proof is ju favour of the Register. APPENDIX. Montrose, in 1645 ; the second married Lord Forrester, by whom she had five children, who all assumed the name of Euthven ; the third married Major Pringle, of Whitebank, whose descendant is the present representative of the Earl of Forth and Brentford. Prince Rupert. Son of Frederick Y., Elector Palatine, by Elizabeth, daughter of James I. The Prince came over from Holland to the assistance of the King, his uncle, about the time of the raising of the royal standard at Nottingham. "He possessed in a high degree that kind of courage which is better to attack than defend, and is less adapted to the land-service than that of the sea, where precipitate valour is in its element. He seldom engaged but he gained the advan- tage, which he generally lost by pursuing it too far. He was better qualified to storm a citadel, or even mount a breacli, than patiently sustain a siege ; and would have furnished an excellent hand to a general of a cooler head." Prince Eu^oert died, unmarried, at his house in Spring Gardens, 29th November, 1682, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Sir John Byron. Sir John Byron, K.B., M.P. for the town of Nottingham in the reign of James I., and for the county of Notting- ham in that of Charles I. A faithful adherent of, and gallant officer under the latter King. Sir John commanded the corps of reserves at the battle of Edgehill; and the \ictory of Eoundway Do^vn, 5Dh July, 1643, wherein Sir William Waller was routed, was chiefly owing to his skill and valour, having at the head of his regiment charged Sir Arthur HasHrigg's cuirassiers, and alter a sharp conflict, in which Sir Arthur received many wounds, compelled that impenetrable regiment (as Lord Clarendon writes) to fly. Sir John B}T:on having given such proofs of his courage, and his six brothers at that time follomng his loyal example, he was in consideration thereof advanced 24th October, 1643, shortly after the first engagement at Newbury, to the dignity of a Baron of the realm, by the title of Lord Byron of Eochdale in the Co. Palatine of Lancaster, with limitation, in default of his own male issue, to each of his brothers. He was twice married ; but dying in 1652 issueless, the barony devolved upon his brother Eichard. Lord Byron's letter to Clarendon, frequently quoted in the text, was written while in exile, and is dated " St. Germains, December 10, 1647." Lord Wilmot. Henry, 2nd Viscount Wilmot in Ireland, was created, 29th June, 1643, Lord Wilmot of Adderbury, co. Oxon, in the English Peerage. He was further advanced to the Earldom of Eochester, 13th December, 1652. He died at Dunkirk in 1659, and was succeeded by his only surviving son John, the better (but not so favourably) known Earl of Eochester. Lord Wilmot "ordered the horse at Newbery first Battel (being Lieutenant- General under Prince Eupert) in so convenient and spacious a place (Downs have been pitched upon as the most com- modious Scene of a Horse Engagement), advising them by no means to be drawn into any uneven streight places ; Avith so strict an eye upon all advantages and opportunities, and in such Eanks, that one Troop might be in suhsidiis assistant to another, and no part stand naked or fail in the singleness of its own strength, but that one may second another from first to last, being aware of Livies charge upon Cajus Sempy^onms, (Pagnavit incaute inconsulteque non suhsidiis Jirmata acie non equite apte locatoj .''^ (Lloyd's 'Memoires,' pp. 465-6.) Earl of Carnarvon. Eobert Dormer, eldest son of Sir William Dormer, Knt., by Alice, daughter of Sir Eichard Molyneux, Bart., of Sefton, CO. Lancaster, and grandson to Eobert Dormer, created a baronet by King James I., June 10th, 1615, and Baron Dormer, of M 90 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. Wing, CO. Bucks, succeeded to the Barony on the death of his grand- father in 1616, and was created Viscount and Earl of Carnarvon by Charles I. in 1628. It appears to have been on the question of Strafford's impeachment that he first joined tlii3 party in j)ublic affaii's wliich he proposed to espouse, by using his utmost endeavours to save the life of that statesman. A^-lien the Buckinghamshire men were, in 1612, incited by Hampden to rise in opposition to established authority, he used all his influence to restore order in that county, where his estates chiefly lay, and combined "v\i.th other loyalists in raising and arming forces for the King. He attended Charles to York, signed the famous declar- ation of June 10th, and was one of those royalists who were excepted from the first Indemnity. He distinguished himself in every action in which he was engaged, and particularly at the battles of Edgeliill, Lansdown, and Roundway Down. Lord Clarendon speaks of him as an excellent ofiicer, invaluable to the King for the strict discipline he maintained, beloved by the soldiers for Ms justice, and so scrupulous an observer of his word that nothing would induce him to continue in the army of the west after Prince Maurice, who commanded it, had violated the articles of capitulation made with the towns of Weymouth and Dorchester. Like his noble compatriots Sunderland and Falkland, Carnarvon fell in the first battle at Newbury, and his name is commemorated on the monument erected on the field where he gave his life for the King he had served so well. His death has been variously described. Clarendon states ihat the Earl, having charged and routed a body of the enemy's horse, and coming carelessly back by some scattered troopers, was by one of them, who knew liim, run through the body vnih a sword ; of which he died within a hour. In Sir Roger Manley's 'History of the Rebellion,' his death is thus related: — "There was a little hill five hundred paces from the town, which the Cavaliers had possessed and fortified with guns. Essex perceiving it, and having no other way to pass, he himself with his own regiment and that of the general's guards attacks it bravely, being as bravely received by the royalists, Stapleton with his own regiment and that of the general's guards, charging the Earl of Carnarvon, was repulsed, but the Earl, pursuing too far, was killed by a shot in [at] the head of his own men ; a person no less remarkable for his fortitude and fidelity to the King, than for the nobleness of his extraction." The context shows that Sir Roger refers to the Wash as the hill fortified with the King's artillery.* Llo^^d, in his 'Memoires, ' gives this account : — "The Earl recei"ving Sir Philip Stapleton with his regiment of horse and Essex his life guard with a brisk charge and pursuing them to the foot, when a private hand put an end to his life, and in breatliing out his last he asked ' whether the King was in safety ? ' " It is further stated in Fuller's ' Worthies '"in Bucks {'p. 141), that as he lay dying on the heath a certain nobleman asked Mm if he had any request to prefer to the King, assuring Mm that it would be punctually fuMlled. " No," he replied, "I will not die with a suit in my mouth, but to the King of Kings." In Defoe's ' Memoirs of a Cavalier,' wliich, though woven into a romantic story, is written with ai)f)arent fidelity of statement, it is said : — " The Earl of Carnarvon was brought into an inn at Newberry, where the King came to see him. He had just life enough to speak to his Majesty, and died in his presence. The King was exceedingly concerned for liim and was observed to shed tears at the sight. We were indeed all of us troubled at the loss of so brave a * The traditional spot where Lord Carnarvon probably fell is marked on the Plan. APPENDIX. 91 gentleman, but the concern our rojdl master discovered moved us more than ordinary. Everybody endeavoured to have the King out of the room, but he would not stir from the bed-side, till he saw all hopes of life gone." The body of the Earl was conveyed under guard to Oxford, and buried in the chapel of Jesus College, but was removed to the family burial-place at Wing, near Leighton Buzzard, and re-interred August 3rd, 1650. While on its way to Oxford, the funeral cortege is stated to have been attacked by a body of Parliamentary horse, and the Earl's jewels and plate taken. The following interesting anecdote relating to the Earl was communicated, in 1759, by Mr. James Pettit Andrews, F.S.A., to Edward Rowe Mores, in reply to his queries for a parochial 'History of Berkshire.' "A person now alive has formerly had much conversation with an old soldier (who dy'd forty years ago) about the Particulars of that Battle, but they gathered nothing strik- ingly new from him. There were not many years ago, persons who remember' d Ld. Carnarvon riding thro' Newbury with his sword drawn and jocosely taking measure of a gate (thro' which he propos'd bring- ing Essex as a prisoner) to know whether it was wide enough for the Parliament General's horns. The same persons soon after saw Carnar- von's body brought across a horse like that of a calf." The *' horns " no doubt allude to Essex's unfortunate matrimonial relations. Lord Carnarvon married Anne Sophia, daughter of Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery (from whom the present Lord Carnarvon paternally descends), and left an only child, Charles, his successor, who dying without male issue, the earldom became extinct, and the Barony of Dormer devolved on a distant kinsman, in whose posterity it remains. Henry Spencer. First Earl of Sunderland, son of William, 2nd Lord Spencer, of Wormleighton, by Penelope, eldest daughter of Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton, was born in 1620. After a few days' visit at Oxford, Lord Sunderland joined the army as it was on the point of engaging at Newbury. The Earl having no command in the army, attended upon the King's person under the obligation of honour, bringing, according to Lloyd, £15,000 and 1,200 men to his Majesty. He married the beautiful Lady Dorothea, daughter of the Earl of Leicester, by whom he had one son, Robert, his successor, lineal ancestor to the Duke of Marlborough and Earl Spencer, and one daughter, Dorothy, "married to Sir George Saville, Bart., afterwards created Marquis of Halifax. The following letter was written by Lord Sunderland to his wife, Lady Dorothea (Waller's Sacharissa), a few days before the battle of Newbury, in which he was killed : — " Since I wrote to you last from Sudley, we had some hopes one day to fight with my Lord Essex's army, we receiving certain intelligence of his being in a field convenient enough, called Ripple Field, towards which we advanced with all possible speed ; upon which he retired with the body of his army to Tewkesbury, where, by the advantage of the bridge, he was able to make good his quarter, with 500 men, against 20,000. So that though we were at so near a distance as we could have been with him in two hours : his quarter being so strong, it was resolved on Thursday, that we seeing for the present he would not fight with us, we should endeavour to force him to it by cutting off his provisions ; for which purpose, the best way was for the body of our army to go back to Evesholme, and for our horse to distress him : upon which I, and many others, resolved to come for a few days hither, there being no probability of fighting very suddenly, where we arrived late on Thursday night. As soon as I came, I went to your father's, where I 92 THE FIEST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. found Alibone, with whose face I was better pleased than with any of the ladies here. This expression is so much a bolder thing- than charg- ing my Lord Essex, that should this letter miscarry and come to the knowledge of our dames, I should, by having my eyes scratched out, be cleared from coming away from the army from fear : where if I had stayed, it is odds I should not have lost more than one. Last night very good news came to Court, that we, yesterday morning, fell upon a horse quarter of the enemies, and cut off a regiment, and that my Lord of Newcastle hath killed, and taken prisoners, two whole regiments of horse and foot that issued out of Hull ; which place he hath great hopes to take ere long. By the same messenger, last night, the King sent the Queen word that he would come hither on Monday or Tuesday ; upon one of which days, if he alter his resolutions, I shall not fail to return to the army. I am afraid our sitting do^^al before Gloucester has hindered us from making an end of the war this year which nothing could keep us from doing if we had a month's more time which we lost there, for we never were in a more prosperous condition. Before I go hence, I hope some body ^dll come from you, howsoever, I shall have a letter here for you. I have taken the best care I can about my economical affairs ; I am afraid I shall not be able to get you a better house, every body thinking me mad for speaking about it. Pray, bless Popet for me and tell her, I would have writ to her but that upon mature deliberation I found it to be uncivil to return an answer to a lady in another character than her owm which I am not yet learned enough to do. I cannot by walking about my chamber call anj^hing more to mind to set down here and really I have made you no small compliment in writing thus much for I have so great a cold that I do nothing but sneeze and mine eyes do nothing but water all the while I am in this posture of hanging dovra my head. I beseech you to pre- sent his service to my lady who is most passionately and perfectly yours." They never met again! The day after the battle, the body of the Earl was removed from Newbury, and subsequently interred in the family burial-place at Brington, Northamptonshire. Lord Falkland. Lucius Gary, Viscount Falkland, born at Burford, about 1610. He was the eldest son of Sir Henry Gary, of Berkliamp- stead and Aldenham in Herts, and of Elizabeth, daughter and sole heiress of Sir Laurence Tanfield, Ghief Baron of the Exchequer.* Sir Henry was raised to the peerage of Scotland, November 10th, 1620, by the title of Viscount Falkland, and died in September, 1633, when his son, Lucius, inherited his title and estates. , Lord Falkland's reputa- tion for talents, genius, and general literature, by which he was dis- tinguished, may be inferred from several addresses made to him on the occasion of his leaving England in the expedition against the Scots in 1639 with the Earl of Holland, particularly by the poets Waller, Cowley, Ben Jonson, and Suckling, neither of whom would have dared • In Burford Church is a stately monument to Sir Laurence Tanfield and his lady, with their efflgies at full length in the habit of the period ; and at their feet Lord Falkland, their grandson, who fell at Newbury, is represented in armcur, kneeling, with his back towards them ; and his helmet was formerly suspended over the tomb. (See 'Gentleman's Mag.' Ixi. p. 896. 'The tour of the Captaine, Lieutenant, and Ancient,' Lansdown MS. No. 213.) It is said that when the Earl of Essex and his troops lay in Burford Church, June 6th, 1641, they took down the pennons and flags over Tanfield's monument and wore them for scarves, xhe Manor of Burford was sold by Lord Falkland to Speaker Lenthall, in IG^ii. APPENDIX. 93 to satirize a man of his character by vain adulation and false praise. Cowley's poem commences with these lines: — «' Great is thy charge, O North; be wise and just; England commits her Falkland to thy trust, Return him safe; learning would rather choose Her Bodley or her Vatican to lose. All things that are but writ or printed there, In his unbounded breast engraven are; There all the sciences together meet. And every art does all his kindred greet." And in Waller we find this passage : — '• Ah ! noble friend ! with what impatience all That know thy worth, and know how prodigal Of thy great soul thou art, longing to twist Bays with that ivy, which so early kist' Thy youthful temples ; with what horror we Think on the blind events of war and thee ! To fate exposing that all-knowing breast Among the throng as cheaply as therest." He was chosen Member of Parliament for Newport, April, 1640, and again in November of the same year. He distinguished himself by his speeches in Parliament on the subject of ship-money, episcopacy, &c. In January, 1641-2, Lord Falkland was sworn of the Privy Council, and became one of the principal Secretaries of State. He followed the King to York, and supported the Royal cause by his pen and his sword until his death. He fought at the battle of Edgehill, and attended the King at the siege of Gloucester. At the First Battle of Newbury, he served in the front rank of Lord Byron's regiment, and whilst charging the enemy he received a musket shot in the stomach, and fell dead from his horse. The body of Lord Falkland was not found before the day after the battle, when it was discovered, says John Aubrey, the Wilt- shire antiquary, ' ' stript, trod upon, and mangled, and could only be identified by one who waited upon him in his chamber, by a certain mole his lordship had upon his neck." * The same morning a letter had been sent to Essex by Rupert, as follows : — "We desire to know from the Earl of Essex, whether he have the Viscount Falkland, Capt. Bertue [the Hon. Henry Bertie, brother to the Earl of Lindsey], and Sergt. -Maj or Wilshire t prisoners, or whether he have their dead bodies, and if he have, that liberty may be granted to their servants to fetch them away. Given under my hand at Newbery this 21 Sept. 1643. Rupert. " The body of Falkland, having been recovered, was placed across the back of one of the royal ehargers, and mournfully escorted down the hill by a detachment of the King's own troop, and gently laid in the old Town Hall. The following morning the corpse was removed to Oxford, thence next day to Great Tew, and interred in the chancel of the parish church of St. Michael, as the register thus records :— "The 23rd day of September, a.d. 1643, the Eight Honourable Sir Lucius Cary, Knight, Lord Viscount of Falkland, AND Lord of the Manor or Great Tew, WAS buried here." No monument marks the spot, for fear, it is thought, of desecration • Letters, vol. ii., pt. 1, p. 34,6. + There were three or more "Wilshires, Wilsheers, or Wiltshires, engaged in the Civil War, and it is difficult to determine theidentity of the " Sergt.-Major Wilshire,' mentioned in Prince Rupert's letter. 94 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. at this troubled period. Lady Lettice was buried at Great Tew, February 27th, 1646, leaving behind her a reputation for ■virtue and piety. Another version, however, of the temporary disposal of the body of Falkland and the other Lords killed at Newbury is furnished by a MS. in the possession of F. D. Hibbert, Esq., of Chalfont House, Gerrard's Cross, entitled 'John Saunders, His Book, 1712. The account of my travels with my Mistress.' * From this the following is an extract : — " Augt. ye 1. She went in ye Alesbury coach, and I on ye outside, we din'd at ye Crown at Uxbridg, and went that night to Sr Richard HoKord's house in Lincoln's Inn Fields, whar we ware welcomely receiv'd, but found my Lady in aweful condiscion. "We stayed there till ye 11 of August, then my Mrs. went with Sr Richd. and Lady in their coach, and I on ye outside for Avebury, we sat out on Tuesday, and din'd that day at Mr. Bolding's at ye Crown at Slow, one mile from Winsor, I saw ye Castle as I past ye road. I lay that night at ye Bare, at Reading, which is a large town, and four churches in it, it is a good place for trade, ye river of Thames comes to it, it is ... . miles from Slow. Ye 12 we din'd at Mr. Phillips at ye Bare in Spinumlands, in Nuberry parish, whare was ye great fight in ye sivil wars, four noble Dukes [Lords] thare killed and carried into that very house where I dined, it is ... . miles from Reading. As I first [came] near Nuberry I see ye fields where many brave English men weare killed, and much blood was spilt there." This statement does not interfere with the accuracy of the tradition already referred to ; for it is more than probable that the bodies of all the more important person- ages who fell during the battle were first received at the Town Hall for identification, and as a temporary measure, and were then individu- ally transferred to other places previous to their final interment, or transmission to the places selected for that purpose. Falkland's body may well have been brought first to the ofi&cial centre of the town, and then have been moved to the Bear Inn on the Oxford Road, where it was placed in a shell or cof&n and prepared for its final removal.-:— ^^•' It is not difficult to fix the position of the Bear Inn, and Mr. John Tanner's evidence on the point is amply suificient to establish the fact. In a letter received from him, he states, ' ' I have referred to the papers I wished to see and I find that my impression is correct, namely, that the premises now occupied b.y Mr. Adnams, Mrs. Fidler, and Mr. Hunt (on both sides of the gatewa}-) were the Bear Inn." These buildings are situated on the north side of the London and Bath road at Speenhamland. Mr. Tanner then goes on to say, ''In a deed dated 29th September, 1757, the premises now in the occupation of Messrs. Forster and Abel (which were then known as the Elephant Inn) are described as adjoining to the Chequers Inn on the West, and the Uoo messuages or tenements fformtrhj the Bear Inn) on the East. These two messuages or tenements were in , 1757 in the occupation of John Awbrey and Francis Sheppard, who were, I think, brewers. From Mr. Sheppard they have come down to Mr. E. J. Alderman the present owner. " It is not many years since in making some alterations in the garden at the back, some skeletons, and I believe, cannon balls were dug up. I heard many years since that the Bear Inn was shut up for some time, * Sarah, youngest daughter of Samuel Trotman, Esq., of Siston ("ourt, Gloucester- shire, and Bucknell, Oxon, died in 1684, the wife of the {Rev. Dr. Hickes, rector of WJaimple, Dorsetshire. APPENDIX. 95 and probably never again opened as an Inn, in consequence of a murder supposed to have been committed, if I remember right, in some alter- cation between the mistress and her cook ; one or the other of them was thrown down stairs and killed." Dr. Pordage, rector of Bradlield, a celebrated enthusiast, placed by Baxter at the head of the Boehmenists, was tried at the Bear Inn, Speenhamland, in 1654, before the Commissioners of Berks, apx^ointed by an Ordinance of the Lord Protector Cromwell and his council for ejecting "Scandalous, Ignorant, and Insufiicient Ministers." The Commissioners at the first sitting consisted of Mr. Fettyplace, chair- man, Mr. Samuel Wightmck, Mr. Samuel Dunch, Major Fincher, Major AlLin, Mr. Evelyn, Mr. Angell Bell, Mr. MiUs, Mr. Cos, and Mr. Stroude, with Mr. Woodbridge, rector of Newbury, Mr. Christopher Fowler, vicar of 8t. Mary's, Reading, Mr. Hughes, Mr. John Tickell, of Abingdon, and other ministers, as assistants. The Commissioners sat at the Bear Inn, Speenhamland, on October 5th, October 19th, and November 2nd, 1654, and at the Bear Inn, Reading, on November 22nd and December 7th. Sentence of ejectment was pronounced the day followang the last sitting. The case is given in extenso in State Trials, vol. ii., pp. 217, 259. The night previous to the battle. Lord Falkland slept at the house of a Mr. Head, in Cheap Street, and early next morning, by his express wish, the sacrament was administered to him by Dr. Twisse, the then Rector of Newbury, in the presence of Mr. Head and his whole family, who attended at Lord Falkland's especial request. The room which tradition points out as being the scene of Falkland' s last communion is in a house now known as No. 1, Falkland Place, and contains a curious cupboard fitted into a recess, concealed by a panel. The cupboard is of mahogany, and the shell-like ornament at the top and the mould- ings are gilt. Earl of Lindsey. Montague Bertie, 2nd Earl of Lindsey, K.G, This nobleman being with his gaUant father at Edgehill, when he received his death -wound, voluntarily surrendered himself prisoner in order to be near and attend him. The Earl's second wife was Bridget, daughter of Edward Wray, Esq., by Lady Elizabeth Norreys his wife, only daughter and heiress of Francis, Earl of Berkshire and Baron Norreys, of Rycote, and widow of Sir Edward Sackville, who was engaged at Newbury fight. By this Bridget the Earl had a son James, who became Lord Norreys in right of his mother, and was created Earl of Abingdon, also a daughter Mary, married to Charles Dormer, 2nd Earl of Carnarvon, and two other children. Lord Lindsey commanded the King's life-guards in several of the considerable battles that were fought in the course of the Civil War, and was wounded in that of Naseby. He died at Campden House, Kensington, the 25th July, 1666. Earl of Northampton. James, 3rd Earl. This nobleman, while a commoner, and M.P. for the co. Warwick, having voted, in 1641, against the bill for attainting the Earl of Strafford-, his name was amongst those called Strajfurdians, in the list posted up in the Old Palace Yard ; and subsequently, mth other members, he was expelled the House. He was afterwards distinguished with his gallant father (who fell at the battle of Hopton Heath) in the ranks of the cavaliers ; and on the magnificent entry of Charles II. into the city of London, 29th May, 1660, he headed a band of two hundred gentlemen attired in grey and blue. The Earl married first Isabella, daughter and co-heir of Richard, 3rd Earl of Dorset, by whom he had one sur- 96 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. viving daughter, Alatliea, wlio married Sir Edward Hungerford, Bart. On her death without issue in 1678, her great fortune devolved upon her cousin, John, 3rd Earl of Thanet. The Earl married secondly Mary, daughter and heiress of Baptist Noel, Viscount Camden, by whom he had three sons and two daughters. Earl op Nottingham. Sir Charles Howard, 3rd Earl. He died 26th April, 1681, when the Earldom of Nottingham expired. Earl of Cleveland. Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Cleveland, and Lord Wentworth of Nettlestead, 1625. Lord Cleveland was esjDecially prominent at the Second Battle of Newbury, where he was instrumental in saving the life of the King. On the death of the Earl, 25th March, 1667, the Earldom of Cleveland became extinct, but his grand -daughter, Henrietta Maria, succeeded to the Barony of Went- worth. She was the only child of his only son, Thomas, Lord Went- worth, who served his Majesty throughout the war, but died before his father, and was buried at Toddington, Beds., 7th March, 1664-5. As the Baroness Wentworth she is best remembered from her unhappy connection with the Duke of Monmouth. She died 23rd April, 1686, when the title reverted to her aunt, her father's only sister, Lady Anne, wife of John, 2nd Lord Lovelace ; and at her death, 7th May, 1697, it passed to her grand -daughter Martha, wife of Sir Henry Johnson, and at her death, in July, 1745, without issue, it reverted to Sir Edward Noel, 6th Bart., and at his death in 1774, passed to his son Thomas, at whose death in 1815, it fell into abeyance, which terminated, 12th November, 1856, in favour of Lady B}T.^on, widow of the Poet, whose grandson, Ralph-G-ordon-NoelMilbanke, is now 11th Baron Wentworth. Earl of Holland. Henry Rich, Earl of Holland, captain of the King's guard, and general of the horse in the expedition to Scotland, was much in favour with James I. In the latter end of the reign of James, he was sent ambassador to France, where he negotiated the treaty of marriage between Charles and Henrietta Maria. His hand- some person, gallant behaviour, and courtly address, are thought to have made an early impression upon the heart of that princess, of whom he is known to have been a distinguished favourite. His conduct was so various with respect to the King and Parliament that neither party had the least regard for him, if they did not look upon him as their enemy. Lord Holland with the Earls of Clare and Bedford had left the Parliament and joined the King, shortly before the battle of New- bury, Colonel Blagge, the governor of WaUingf ord, receiving the converts at the castle, and forwarding them with an escort of honour to Oxford. The three Earls subsequently returned to the Parhament. In 1648 Lord Holland once more adopted the royal cause ; and having received from the Prince of Wales (afterwards Charles II.) a commission as general, and the Queen, who was in Paris, promising money, he joined with the Duke of Buckingham, his brother Lord Francis Villiers, and a few others of high rank, in a rash and feeble effort for the King at Kingston-on-Thames. Being surrounded by a superior body of the Parliament horse and foot, he fled with Colonel Dalbier and about a hundred horse to St. Neots, where he was taken prisoner at an inn ; he was then confined in Warwick Castle, and afterwards in the Tower. He was tried by the so-called "High Court of Justice," and, by the casting vote of the Speaker, sentenced to be executed. Lord Holland was beheaded at Palace Yard, 9th March, 1649, u^jon the same scafEold as the Duke of Hamilton and Lord Capel. The Duke of Buckingham managed to escape at Kingston, but his handsome and brave brother, the young Lord Francis Villiers, was killed. He behaved with signal APPENDIX. 97 courage, and, after his horse had been shot under him, stood with his back against a tree, defending himself till he siink under his wounds. The initials of his name were inscribed on the tree, and remained until it was cut down in 1680. The names " King Charles' Road" and * ' Villi ers' Path ' ' at present alone commemorate the scene of this iight, which was one of the last struggles made for the King, then a prisoner in the Isle of Wight. Earl of Bedford. William, 5th Earl of Bedford, son of Francis, 4th Earl, elected a Knight of the Garter, 1672, and created, 11th May, 1694, Marquis of Tavistock and Duke of Bedford. His G-race married Anne, daughter and sole heiress of Eobert Carr, Earl of Somerset, by his too celebrated countess, Frances Howard, the divorced wife of Essex. Sir John Russell, a younger brother of William, 5th Earl of Bedford, was also engaged in the First Battle of Newbury. Earl of Clare. John Holies, 2nd Earl, who succeeded his father on his death, 4th October, 1637. He married Elizabeth, eldest daughter and co-heir of Sir Horatio Vere, Lord Vere of Tilbury. He lived in retirement during the Commonwealth. Lord Clarendon says of him : — * ' He was a man of honour and courage, and would have been an excellent person if his heart had not been set upon keeping and improving his estate ; he was weary of the company he kept, and easily hearken' d to the Earl of Holland, in any consultation how to recover the King's authority, and to put an end to the war." The Earl died the 2nd, and was buried 23rd January, 1665-6, at St. Mary's, Nottingham. Earl of Crawford. Ludovic Lindsay, the " Loyal Earl" of Craw- ford. The name of this nobleman does not occur in the list of prominent royalist leaders engaged at the First Battle of Newbury, page 42, but his participation in this fight is proved by references given by the late Lord Lindsay in his ' Lives of the Lindsays,' vol ii., p. 64, where an interesting memoir of Earl Ludo\ic will be found. John, Lord Belasyse, second son of Thomas, 1st Viscount Falcon- berg, created Baron Belasyse of Worlaby, co. Lincoln, 27th January, 1644-5. He was buried in the churchyard of St. Giles's in the Fields, 14th September, 1689, and his loyalty to his King is perpetuated by the folio-wing inscription copied from the monument now on the outside of the church. "This monument was erected in the year of our Lord 1736, by the pious direction of the honourable Dame Barbara Webb, wife of Sir John AVebb, of Cranford Magna in the county of Dorset, baronet, and the honourable Catharine Talbot, wife of the honourable John Talbot, of Longford in the county of Salop, esquire, surviving daughters and co-heirs of the right honourable John, Lord Belasyse, second son of Thomas, Lord Viscount Fauconberg, in memory of their most dear father, his wives, and children. Who, for his loyalty, pru- dence, and courage, was promoted to several commands of great trust by their majesties King Charles I. and II., viz., having raised six regiments of horse and foot in the civil wars, he commanded a tertia in liis Majestic' s armies at the battles of Edge -hill, Newbury, and Knavesby ; at the sieges of Reading and Bristol ; and afterwards, being made governor of York, and commander-in-chief of all his Majestie's forces in Yorkshire, he fought in the battle of Selby, with the lord Fairfax. And being lieutenant-general of the counties of Lincoln, Nottingham, Derby, and Rutland, and governor of Newark, he valianlty defended that garrison against the English and Scotch armies, till his Majesty came in person to the Scotch quarters, and commanded the surrender of it. At which time he also had the honour of being general of the King's horse-guards ; in all which services during the war, and N 98 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. * other achievements,, he deported himself with eminent courage and conduct, and received many wounds, sustained three imj)risonments in the Tower of London ; and after the happy restoration of Charles II., he was made lord-lieutenant of the east-riding of the County of York, governor of Hull, general of his Majestic' s forces in Africa, governor of Tangier, captain of his majestic' s guard of gentlemen pensioners, and first lord commissioner of the treasury to King James II. He died the 10th of September, a.d. 1689, whose remains are deposited in this vault." The remainder of the inscription refers to his marriages and issue. George, Lord Digby. Son and heir of John Digby, 1st Earl of Bristol, summoned to Parliament in his father's barony of Digby, June 9th, 1641. At the Restoration he was made Knight of the Garter, and died in 1676. The title became extinct on the death of his only son in 1698. Lord Jermyn. Henry Jermyn, created Baron Jermyn, 8th Septem- ber, 1643, and Earl of St. Albans, 27th April, 1660. He was Master of the Horse to Queen Henrietta, and one of the Privy Council to Charles II. In July, 1660, he was sent Ambassador to the Court of France, and in 1671 he was made Lord Chamberlain of His Majesty's household. He died unmarried, 2nd January, 1683-4, when the earldom became extinct, but the Barony, by limitation of the patent, devolved on his nephew. Lord Percy. Henry Percy, youngest son of Henry, 9th Earl of Northumberland, and brother of Algernon, 10th Earl. He was Governor of Jersey at the breaking out of the rebellion, but returned to England, raised a regiment of horse, and was constituted General of the Ordnance. He attended the King throughout the whole of the war, and was created Baron Percy of Alnwick, 28th June, 1643. He afterwards followed Charles II. into exile, and was appointed Lord Chamberlain of his Household. Died in Paris, unmarried, in April, 1652. His brother Algernon took an active part against Charles I., but was entirely free from any participation in his death, and subse- quently promoted the Restoration. Lord Chandos. George Brydges, son of Grey, 5th Lord Chandos, by Lady Ann Stanley, daughter and co-heir of Ferdinando, 5th Earl of Derby, succeeded as 6th Lord Chandos on the death of his father, 10th August, 1621, being then only a year old. He died at his house near Covent Garden (on the site of the present Chandos Street) 1st February, 1654-5, and was buried with his ancestors in the chapel of Sudeley. Leaving no male issue, the title passed to his brother William. "His Castle, at Sudeley near Winchcomb in Gloucestershire," says Lloyd, "biing besieged by Massie, with 300 musquetcers and three com- panies of draff oons, and two sakers, after a long siege, several assaults and batteries, when they were almost smothered by the smoke of hay and barns burned about the house, yielded Jan. 1642. • A loss revenged by my Lord at Newbury, Sept. 20, 1643, when with the Earls of Caernarvon and Northampton, the triie Heir of his father's valor, commanding His Majesties' Horse there, the King said. Let ' Chandois alone, his errors are safe.'' ^^ (Lloyd's 'Memoires,' p. 366.) It is related by the Rev. Alex. Jacob, chaplain to Henry, second Duke of Chandos, in his ' Com- plete English Peerage,' that Charles I. was so sensible of the advantages that had accrued to his army during this battle by the examiDle exhibited by Lord Chandos, as well as the personal service performed by this nobleman, that he offered to create him Earl of Newbury ; but his lordship, who had espoused the King's cause from motives of APPENDIX. 99 honour and justice, refused that distinction till he should have deserved it more by having a principal share in the re-establishment of His Majesty upon the throne. Lord Chandos was immediately descended from Eichard Brydges, of West Shefford, near Newbury, who married Jane, daughter of 8ir William Spencer, of Wormleighton, ancestor to the Duke of Marlborough and Earl Spencer. James, the first Duke of Chandos, purchased the Shaw Estate of the representatives of the Dolman family, and frequently resided at Shaw House, which figures so conspicuously in connection with the Second Battle of Newbury. His second duchess, but third wife, Lydia Catherine, died at Shaw House in 1750, and was buried in Shaw Church. Lord Molyneux. Eichard, 2nd Viscount, succeeded to the title on the death of his father in 1632. He actively supported the interests of Charles I., and with his brother Carlyll raised two regiments of horse and foot, with which they served during the course of the war. Lord Molyneux was in the battle of Worcester. He died soon afterwards, leaving no issue by his wife Lady Frances Seymour, eldest daughter of William, Marquis of Hertford, and the honours devolved upon his brother Carlyll, 3rd Viscount, who was outlawed by Parliament for his exertions on behalf of the Charleses. The Viscountcy of Molyneux is now held with the Earldom of Sefton. Hon. Henry Bertie. Son of the 1st Earl of Lindsey, and brother to Montagu, 2nd Earl, who was also engaged at Newbury. This gallant young nobleman fell in the early part of the fight, and his body, like that of his comrade Falkland, was not found till next day. He is mentioned in a letter written by Prince Eupert to the Earl of Essex, printed elsewhere (see Falkland). His body having been embalmed, was temporarily placed in a vault at All Saints' Church, Oxford, and was afterwards removed and interred in the chancel of Wytham Church, near the grave of his comrade the Hon. Edward Sackville. Sir Charles Lucas. Son of Thomas Lucas Esq., next brother to John, who was afterwards the first Baron Lucas of Shenfield, co. Essex. His family was one of the most distinguished in the kingdom for its valour and its sufferings in the royal cause. " He carryed 2000 horse to assist His Majesty, -with whom we finde him eminent both for his directions and execution about the hill near Newbery and Enborne Heath, which he maintained with one regiment well disposed and lined with musqueteers, and a drake, with small shot against the gross of Essex his army, the leading-man of which he pistolled himself in the head of his troop, giving close fire himself, and commanding others to do the like." Lloyd's 'Memoires,' p. 475. Sir Charles was at the head of those loyalists who, in 1648, shut themselves up in Colchester, and defended it against the army of Fairfax for three months. Wlien the garrison yielded to the enemy, their ammunition was reduced to a barrel and a half of powder ; and their provisions to two horses and one dog. Sir Charles Lucas met with cruel treatment for his resolute defence of this place. He, and his friend Sir George Lisle, were ordered to be shot to death the same day on which the Parliamentary army entered the town. He begged a day's respite to prepare for death, but his request was refused, and he was executed August 28th, 1648. He died with the courage of a soldier and a christian. His faithful servant, who was a sorrowful spectator of his death, with great earnestness begged the executioner of his master to dispatch him also, as his life was become "his torment." The bodies of the two friends, Lucas and Lisle, were interred in a vault in the north aisle of St. Giles's Church, Colchester. At the Restoration a large flat marble slab was laid over 100 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. their grave, at the expense of Lord Lucas, with the following inscrip- tion : — " Under this marble lie the bodies of the two most valiant cavaliers Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle, knights, who, for their eminent loyalty to their Sovereign, were, on the 28th August, 1648, by command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, (the General of the Parlia- ment Army) in cold blood barbarously murdered." Li Lord de Grey's 'Memoir of Sir Charles Lucas,' a tradition is related that George Vilhers, Duke of Buckingham, who married Fairfax's only daughter, applied to Charles II. to have this inscription erased. The King men- tioned it to Lord Lucas (the brother of Sir Charles), who said that he would obey his Majesty's commands if his Majesty would allow the following to be substituted : — " Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle were barbarously murdered for their loj^alty to King Charles the First, and King Charles the Second ordered the memorial of their loyalty to be erased." ThereuiDon the King ordered the inscription to be cut more deeply than before. Whitelock, in a few words, expresses the grief of heart the King suifered for the catastrophe of his two brave soldiers. He says, "At the sight of a gentleman in deep mourning for Sir Charles Lucas, the King wept." Sir George Lisle. Son of Cave Lisle, of Compton Darvill, co. Somerset, had his military education in the Netherlands. He com- manded the ' forlorn hope ' of foot at the first battle of Newbury, and signalized himself upon many occasions in the Civil Wars ; particularly at the second battle of Newbury, where the King, who was an eye- witness of his bravery, knighted him on the field of battle. He did gallant service at Cheriton fight near Alresford, at Naseby, where he and Lord Bard commanded the left tertia of foot, and was Governor of Faringdon when Sir Robert Pye made an unsuccessful attack upon the garrison in 1646. In 1648 he rose for his Majesty in Essex, and was one of the roj^alists who so obstinately defended Colchester, and who died for their defence of it. Sir Charles Lucas was the first executed ; as he fell. Lisle ran and kissed him, and immediately standing up : ''Soldiers," he exclaimed, "come nearer ; you are too far off." " Rest assured," they replied, "we'll hit you." "Comrades," answered Lisle, smiling, " I have been nearer and you missed me ; " and he fell by the side of his friend. Sir Edward Waldegrave. Son of Sir Edward Waldegrave, Bart., of Stamnghall, Norfolk. He died at Oxford, and was buried at St. Mary's Church in that city, 8th December, 1644. Sir Lewis Kirke. Second son of Gervase Kirke, gent., merchant, of London, and of Dieppe, in France, and of Greenhill, in the parish of Norton, co. Derby, by Elizabeth, daughter of John (jowding (or Goudon) of Dieppe. He was born about 1600, and commanded one of the ships in the expedition to Newfoundland and Canada in 1626, under the chief command of his elder brother. Captain (afterwards Sir) David Kirke. He afterwards joined the Royal cause, and became a distin- guished cavalier. He was knighted at Oxford, 23rd April, 1643, and was subsequently Governor of Bridgnorth ; at his death he was one of the Band of Gentleman -Pensioners. He survived the Restoration ; and his Will, in which he described himself as of the Savoy Parish, co. Middlesex, dated 21st August, 1663, was proved 7th October following, in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, by his brother and nephew, both named John Kirk, father and son, to whom he left the reversion of his estate after the death of his wife. His widow, Dame Elizabeth, by whom he left no issue, did not long survive him, as she was buried at St. Giles' in the Fields, 20th December, 1G63. Her maiden name APPENDIX. 101 was Haines, but she was a widow when she married Sir Lewis Kirke, and her first husband's name has not been ascertained. Sir William Vatasour. Son of Sir Thomas Vavasour, of Haslewood, in the county of York. Commander-in-chief of the Grloucester shire forces, engaged at Marston Moor, 1644, where his brother Thomas was slain. Being disgusted with the miscarriage of that great battle, he left the King's service and went over to Hamburgh. Afterwards he joined the Swedish service, and was killed under the walls of Copen- hagen, 1658 or 1659. Sir Thomas Aston, of Aston, in Cheshire. Created a Baronet by King Charles I., 25th July, 1628, and was subsequently in the Civil Wars a zealous sux^porter of the Eoyal cause. He died of wounds received at Staiiord, 1645. He was a relative of Sir Arthur Aston, Governor of Eeading, slain at the storming of Drogheda, Ireland, 1649. Sir Anthony Mansel, Governor of CarcHif , son of Sir Francis Mansel, Bart., of Trimsaren, co. Caermarthen. Sir Edward Stradling, of St. Donat's, Glamorganshire. Third Baronet. This gentleman, who, like his father and uncles, was a zealous and active Royalist, brought a troop of horse to the assistance of the King at Newbury, and after the loss of that day, retired to Oxford, where he died of consumption. He was buried in Jesus College Chapel, 21st June, 1644. Sir Michael Wodehouse. Governor of Ludlow. He had been sometime page to the Marquis of Hamilton, had served in Ireland, whence returning early in 1643, he was preferred to be Sergeant-Major- General of the army of Prince Charles, and to the command of his life- guards. (Webb's ' Ci\dl War in Herefordshire,' vol i., p. 387.) Sir Jacob Astley. This distinguished soldier, more especially referred to in the account of the Second Battle, was father of Sir Bernard Astley. He served in the Netherlands under Prince Maurice and his brother Henry, and afterwards under Christian IV., King of Denmark, and Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden. He was ever in action during the Civil War, and for his signal ser\aces he was created Baron Astley of Eeading, co. Berks, 4th November, 1644. The title became extinct on the death of his grandson, Jacob, in 1688. Sir John Frechville. For the services rendered by Sir John Freeh ville to the royal cause, and on his petition to the King, a warrant was signed by Charles I., at Oxford, 25th March, 1644, for his creation as a peer by the style of Lord Frechville of Staveley, Musard, and Fitz-Ralph. The preamble of the patent takes notice of the loyalty of the said Sir John FrechvT.lle, and his eminent services against the "rebels" at Kineton, Brentford, Marlborough, Newbury, and many other places, where he had received several wounds. Sir John Hvrry, frequently styled "Urry" and "HiuTcy," but always ' ' Hurry ' ' in his own signatures, was a Scotch mercenary, who had previously served in Germany under Lord Forth. He led the attack on Eeading under Hampden, and did good service for the Par- liament at Edgehill, and under Waller. Shortly before the battle of Chalgrove -field he threw up his commission of colonel of horse in the Parliamentary army, and gave the information which led to the suc- cessful attack on the Parliament's troops on that occasion, and to the death of Hampden. Hiu'ry was allowed to convey the news to Oxford, and was knighted by the King. He was engaged at the first battle at Newbury, at Marston Moor, where he was second in command under Goring, who led the left wing of horse, and took part in several other actions while in the King's service. Shortly before the second 102 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. battle at Newbury, when the King was on his march from Cornwall, intending to retire into winter quarters at Oxford, and while the armies of Waller, JManchester, and Cromwell were being concerted with the view of bringing the King to an engagement, Hurry consummated another act of baseness. Having represented to the King that he wished to retire to the continent, he obtained a pass for that purpose, and with the avowed object of pro- viding greater security for his passage, he tried to obtain another pass from Sir William Waller, who refused to grant it, and sent him up to the Committee of both Kingdoms. Hurry underwent a lengthened examination before the Committee, and endeavoured to make his peace with the Parliament by betraying the weak and impoverished condition of the King's army which he had recently left, and by the promise of bringing over ' ' a greater soldier than himself. ' ' On the 10th November following. Sir Henry Vane, one of the Committee, presented several letters to the Commons from the Earl of Manchester, Sir William Waller, and Sir William Balfour concerning Hurry's "coming in," but on account of his former inconstancy his services do not appear to have been accepted, and he was permitted to leave the kingdom. (See Common's Journals under date.) In the interim we find him present at the second battle of Newbury, where he charged at the head of the forlorn hope, and afterwards employed in endeavouring to persuade Sir John Boys, his old ally, to yield up Donnington Castle — a proposal, it need hardly be said, with- out effect. He was afterwards appointed to a command in the Parlia- ment's army in Scotland; and was defeated by Montrose at Alderne, 10th May, 1645. Finally, he changed sides a third time, and joined his previous opponent Montrose, Tth May, 1646, at Duthel upon the Spey. He was taken j)risoner by Ross of Balnagown, in an encounter with the Covenanters, Montrose being captured shortly after, and was hanged, with his leader (Montrose), Sir Francis Hay, Col. Spottiswode, and about forty more of the Marquis's followers at Edinburgh, 21st May, 1650. Hurry's colours were azure or deep blue, with the Thistle of Scotland, as usually represented, leaved, &c., of gold, flowered, proper, around which in letters of gold, "^ NEMO ME IMPUNE LAGESSIT;" fringe argent and azure. The motto is that of the Order of St. Andi^ew, to whose badge. The Thistle, it has refer- ence. Berxard Brocas, of Beaurepaire, near Sherborne St. John, Hants. He was one of the sons of Thomas Brocas (son of Sir Pexall Brocas) by Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Wingfield, of Upton, co. Northampton. The Brocas family, of Beaurepaire, near Sherborne St. John, in the chiirch of which parish many of them are buried, is one of the oldest in England, and only in 1873 broke up from their ancient moated mansion where they had lived for 800 years. For 300 years they had been hereditary Masters of the Royal Buckhounds, which office passed out of their hands shortly before the Great Rebellion. Twice over in the history of their tenure of Beaurepaire they were ruined by their adlierence to the cause of their Sovereign ; first, when Sir Bernard Brocas, son of the more famous Sir Bernard, (buried in Westminster Abbey, and described in the ' Scrope and Grosvenor Roll ' by Sir Harris Nicolas) was executed by Henry IV., in 1400, for his share in the conspiracy to restore Richard II. ; and secondly, at the Great Rebellion. Thomas Brocas, the head of the family at the latter period, not only lost a large part of liis property at Windsor, Eton, and other places, in the King's cause, but some of his sons. Bernard, concern- APPENDIX. 103 ing whom the tradition of the family is that the incident mentioned at p. 68 took place at NcAvbury, was the fifth son ; Eobert, the eldest, is said to have lost his life at Oxford ; and Thomas, the second, is said to have been killed at the battle of Worcester, and to have been found with the Brocas banner wrapped round his body. What was left of the Brocas estates passed, about the time of the Eestoration, through Jane, the daughter and sole heiress of the said Eobert, the eldest son of Thomas Brocas, to her husband. Sir AVilliam Gardiner, Bart., of Eoche Court, Fareham, Hants, that property having come to the Brocases with Mary des Eoches, in the time of Edward III. ; but in 1678 Beaurepaire was made over by Sir William Gardiner to the son of the said Thomas Brocas (the younger), killed at Worcester, and remained in his family until 1873. The Gardiners still remain at Eoche Court. CoL. St. John. Edward, third son of Sir John St. John, of Lydiard Tregoze, co. Wilts ; nephew of Sir Oliver St. John, Viscount Grandison. Sir John had three sons killed in the King's service, viz. : — ^William, his second son, under Prince Eupert at the taking of Cirencester ; Edward, above mentioned, at Newbury ; and John, his fifth son, in the north. In the first edition of this work it is stated that Col. St. John fell in the first action at Newbury, his name occuring in a contemporary list of the slain, but it is evident from the inscription on his monument in Lydiard Tregoze Church, viz., April, 1645, that this could not have been the case. He most probably died from the effects of wounds received in the second battle fought in the preceding October. In the St. John pedigree given in Edmondson's 'Baronagium Genealogicum,' the words occur after the name of Col. Edward St. John ' ' killed at Newbury," and the inscription on his monument infers that he fell in action. On the pedestal of the monument in Lydiard Tregoze Church, supporting the full size statue of Col. St. John, in armour, gilt, is a bas-relief representation of a troop of cavalry, in marcliing order, four abreast, with a trumpeter and an officer in front, and at either end a variety of emblematical trox)hies are represented. CoL. Edward Villiers. Youngest son of Sir Edward Villiers, kt., by Barbara, eldest daughter of Sir John St. John, of Lydiard Tregoze, CO. Wilts, kt., and younger brother of the Viscount Grandison. He was knighted 7th April, 1680, and the following year became Knight- Marshall of the Eoyal Household. He died in 1689, and was buried in Westminster Abbey, July 2nd. CoL.WiLL. Leggk. Son of Edward Legge, vice-president of Munster. He eminently distinguished liimself by his faithful attachment to the King andhis son Charles II. He was engaged in both battles of Newbury, and it is said that the night after the first action. Col. Legge being in attendance on the King in his bed-chamber, Ms Majesty presented lum with a hanger (a short curved sword) with agate handle set in gold, which he had that day worn, and would have knighted him with it had he consented. The hanger was kept in Col. Legge' s family till the house at Blackheath was robbed in 1693. Col. Legge died in 1672 at his house in the Minories, London, granted him by Charles II., and was buried with great pomp in the adjoining Church of the Holy Trinity. He was the direct ancestor of the Earls of Dartmouth. Col. Eichard. Lloyd, in his 'Memoires,' thus notices this Eoyalist officer : — " Col. Eichard, a Ker^tish gentleman of good personal valour (under the good old Earl of Cleaveland) both at Newberry in the New- berry fights, where he exceeded his command ; at Sherburn, where he exceeded expectation, (upon the surrender of which place he was taken prisoner) and at Colchester where he exceeded belief." The name of 104 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. "Richard" is possibly a mistake or mis-spelling, and intended for *' Colonel Ricliaud," who may have been a son of Sir Peter Richant, of Aylesford, Kent, knighted at A^Tiitehall, 30th April, 1641. The name is variously spelt. In the list of Knights it is " Rickhard," and one of Sir Peter's sons wrote his name " Riccard." Col. Daniel O'Neill. Lieutenant- Colonel of Prince Rupert's regi- ment of horse ; afterwards Groom of the Bedchamber to the King. ' "The Honourable Col. Oneal, the onely Protestant of his family; its a question whether gaining more honor by his hard service about Gloucester^ and in both the Newherries with King Charles the First, or by his assiduous Negotiations and Messages posting from x)lace to place (in Holland, where he was warned to the Countess of Chesterfield, in France, where he was welcome to the best Cavaliers, and Germany) for King Charles the Second, especially in the various Occasions, Oppor- tunities, and Revolutions, 1659, at Fontarahia, Scotland, Flanders, Eng- land, &c., that made way for his Majesties' Restoration, who let him to farm the Post Office. He died 1664. Its more to be called an Oneal, than an Emperor in Ireland y (Lloyd's ' Memoires,' pp. 664-5.) CoL. Morgan, of Weston, in Lancashire, who raised a troop of horse for the King at his own charge : his estate was seized by the Parliament and bestowed on the son of " King Pym." CoL. Thomas Eure. The evidence as to the identity of tliis officer is conflicting, but he appears to have been the son of William, 6th Lord Eure. CoL. Richard Platt. Among the State Papers, Domestic Series, vol. Ixsxiii, Pub. Record Off., is a petition from Veronica, widow of Col. Richard Platt, to King Charles II., for a portion of the sum allotted for such sufferers. Her husband, she says, spent a fair estate in raising troops for the late King, and was slain at the first battle of Newbury, and she, a Venetian, is left in great necessity. Shortly after, a warrant anthorises a £100 to be i^aid the said Veronica Platt out of the Privy Seal Dormant. There is also a petition, in the same series, from the widow of an artilleryman named Clarke, whom she describes as ' ' gunner to the late King," and states he was slain at Newbury battle, that herself and children had been turned naked out of doors at Weymouth during the Protectorate, whix)ped out of the town, and her goods, worth £300, taken by Col. Sydenham. Mrs. Clarke appears to have found a second martial husband, who, she mentions, "has been a prisoner amongst the Turks," and prays a Tidesman's place for him in the Custom House, and some reparation for her losses and sufferings. Col. Charles G-erard. Son of Sir Charles Gerard, knt., of Halsall, CO. Lancaster. He had been brought up from his youth in the profes- sion of arms upon the usual scene of European warfare, the Nether- lands ; and joined his Majesty King Charles I. at Shrewsbury soon after he had raised the royal standard, and became eminently distin- guished among the Cavaliers : — first, at Kineton or EdgeliiU, where he received some dangerous wounds, and soon after at the taking of Lichfield, the first battle of Newbury, and the relief of Newark. General Gerard then accomxDanied Prince Rupert into Wales and acquired liigh reputation by his victories at Cardiff, Kidwelly, and Caermarthen, and for liis success in taking the Castle of Cardigan and other fortresses, and reducing the strong garrison of Haverfordwest, with the Castles of Picton and Carew. In consequence of such gallant services, he was made by the King Lieutenant-General of his horse, APPENDIX. 105 and elevated to the peerage as Baron Gerard * of Brandon, 8tli October, 1645. His Lordship after the Restoration was created 21st July, 1679, Viscount Brandon and Earl of Macclesfield ; but in the time of James II. he was committed, with the Earl of Stamford and Lord Delamere, to the Tower, and condemned to death, but pardoned. He lived to see the Revolution, and in fact to witness, says Banks, "three singular occurrences in the annals of English history [he might have characterised them as the three most singular], 1st, the deposition and decapitation of King Charles I. ; 2ndly, the Restoration of his son ; and 3rdly, the Revolution and total expulsion of the royal family so recently restored." Besides his Lordship, there were of his family the following persons actively engaged upon the royal side in these unhappy conflicts : — ! Edward Gerard, a colonel of foot, wounded in the first battle of Newbury. Sir Gilbert Gerard, slain near Ludlow. TT. jy I J Sir Gilbert Gerard, governor of Worcester. ms uncles | ^atcliffe Gerard, Lieut. -Colonel to his brother. This gentleman had three sons, Ratcliffe. ) All in the John, put to death by Cromwell. > battle of Gilbert, created a baronet. ) Kineton. (Burke's * Dormant and Extinct Peerage,' pp. 229-30.) Charles, Earl of Macclesfield, died 9th January, 1693-4, and was buried in West- minster Abbey. Col. Thomas Rawdon. The eldest son of Sir Marmaduke Rawdon, who took a gallant part in the defence of Basing House, and in 1645 was made Governor of Faringdon, which he held for the King with distinguished bravery. Col. Rawdon fought in the battles of Newbury, and accepted many dangerous commissions for the service of the King. Ha\dng thus become a marked man he fled from the persecution of the ruling powers, and took refuge with a kinsman and younger brother in the Canary Islands. Some time afterwards he returned to England, and died at Hoddesdon, co. Herts, in 1666. Buried at Broxbourne, 30th August, set 54. (See ' Life of Marmaduke Rawdon of York,' Camden Soc, 1863.) CoL. Pinchbeck. Of Leicestershire. Received his death-wounds at the First Battle of Newbury. Capt. Thomas Bagehot. At the Restoration Capt. Bagehot applied for re -admission to the place of Groom of the King's Chamber in ordinary, which he held under the late King ; and recounts his services at Newbury. (State Papers, Domestic Series, vol. xxii.) Capt. Basil Woodd. Son of Basil Woodd, LL.D., Chancellor of St. Asaph and Rochester, and High Commissioner. In a petition pre- sented by Caj)t. Woodd at the Restoration, he states: — "I have received several shots in my head, and one in my arm, which troubles mee many times. Several horses were shott under mee, one at Round- way-down, another at Newbury fight." Two other sons of Dr. Woodd *His Lordship was first created Earl of Newberry, but the title was changed to Macclesfield. [The late Col. Chester, the editor of the 'Westminster Abbey Registers,' says that he cannot find any authority for this statement made in ' Hurke's Extinct Peerage.' Charles Pitzroy, natural sou of Chirles II., by the Duchess of Cleveland, was created Haron of ^ewhwij, Dake of Southampton, &c., in 1675, tour years before, and it does not seem likely that the title shoul t have been duplicated. It is quite i possible, however, that " Earl of Newbury'' was the title first selected, and that the alteration was made before the patent passed the Great Seal ?] O 106 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. served the King, one of whom fell at Preston ; a daughter married the brave Col. Bowles who was killed in Alton Church, 1643. Basil Thomas "Woodd, Conyngham Hall, Knaresborough, great-great-great-grandson of Dr. Basil Woodd, has in his possession the fStar of the Mantle of the Order of the G-arter, traditionally held as the parting memorial given to Capt. Basil Woodd by Charles 1. on the morning of his execution. Capt. Clifton. Francis Clifton, son of Sir Cuthbert Clifton, of Westby, Lancashire. Capt. Newman. See note, p. 28. George Porter. This royalist adherent is mentioned in 'A perticular Relation of the Victory gotten at Newberry the 20th of September 1643, by His Majesties Forces over the Rebells,' written by Lord George Digby, as being wounded in the battle, while serving as a volunteer in the King's army. He was most probably the eldest son and heir of Endymion Porter, Esq., Groom of the Bed-chamber to Charles I., by Olive, 4th daughter and co-heir of John, Lord Boteler. He was comi)troller of the King's Post in 1640 (but must have then been very young), and compounded for his estate 23rd March, 1645-6, by a fine of £1000. Subsequently he became a Groom of the Bed- chamber to Charles II. He married Diana, daughter and co-heir of George Goring, Earl of Norwich, and A^i.dow of Thomas Covert, of Slaugham, Sussex, by whom he had, ^yit[l other issue, George, his son and heir, who was Vice -Chamberlain to Catherine, Queen of Charles II., and a daughter Mary, who married Phillip, 2nd Viscount Strangford. He died 11th December, 1683, aged 63. " Loyal bloud," says Lloyd in his ' Memoires,' ' ^ like Sar vies went round the Fortej's from the highest to the meanest, 26 of the name having eminently suffered for his Majesty." Capt. Gwynne. Was a retainer in the household of Charles I. before the commencement of the Ci\T.l War, and emj)loyed in training the children of that unfortunate monarch to military exercises. He natur- ally engaged in the royal service, and seems to have distinguished himself by his personal courage and activity. After the execution of the King, he followed the banner of his son (Charles II.) in the most difficult enterprises in which it was displayed. Gwjmne was with Montrose in his last unhappy attempt. He afterwards served under the Duke of York in the fight before Dunkirk, and other actions in Flanders. At the Restoration he appears to have experienced his share of the nesrlect with which Charles II. treated the old cavaliers. §2. PARLIAMENTARY OFFICERS AND OTHERS. Earl of Essex. Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, was only son of the unfortunate favourite of Queen Elizabeth, and inherited much of his father's popularity. He acquired, in the Low Countries, a great reputation as a soldier ; a kind of merit that was despised by James I., and overlooked by Charles. His courage was great, liis honour was inflexible ; but he rather waited for, than sought opportunities of fighting ; and knew better how to gain, than improve a victory. When he took the command of the Parliamentary Army, he was better qualified than any man in the kingdom for that post ; but was soon eclipsed by APPENDIX. 107 a new race of soldiers, who, if not his superiors in the art of war, went far beyond him in spirit and enterprise. He died the 14th of Septem- ber, 1646, and his death helped to open a way for the ambition of Cromwell. An account of the discovery of the burial place of the Earl appears on page 86. Lord Eobartes, or Eoberts. John, Lord Eobartes, 2nd Baron of Truro, co. Cornwall, created Viscount Bodmin and Earl of Radnor, 1679. " That which in the first place crownes all his actions, was the fierce and famous battell at Newberry, where this noble lord lead on the battell in his owne person, charging the maine body of the King's army wdth such resolution, as did inliven the London Brigade to second and relieve them suddenly : yet notwithstanding this noble champion stood to the fight, and lead up other souldiers, and incouraged them, and so continued untill the enemy retreated with great losse of men and amies." (Ricraft's 'Survey of England's Champions,' 1647.) At the Restoration he was well received by Charles II., and appointed a Privy Councillor, Lord Privy Seal, and Viceroy of Ireland. He died at Chelsea in 1685. Dr. Calybute Downing, the famous Puritan divine. Rector of "West Ilsley, near Newbury, was chaplain to Lord Robartes' regiment. Lord Grey of Groby. Thomas Grey, son of Henry, 2nd Lord Grey, created Earl of Stamford, 26th March, 1628. He was one of the King's judges, and his signature appears on the warrant of execution. Sir John Meyrick. He had served in the royal army, and was knighted by the King, but he deserted to the Parliament, and was made Sergeant-lMajor-General by the Earl of Essex, and afterwards, at the siege of Reading, appointed General of the Ordnance, being superseded in his former office by the famous Skippon, by order of Parliament. Sir John Meyrick' s Will was proved in 1659. Sir Philip Stapleton. Inherited " but a moderate estate in York- shire, and, according to the custom of that country, had spent his time in those delights which horses and dogs administer." A Member of the Long Parliament ; joined in the prosecution of Strafford ; opposed the self-denying ordinance, 1644. Withdrew beyond sea, and died at Calais as soon as he landed. ' ' Was denied burial upon imagination that he had died of the plague." (' Peacock's Army List,' p. 25.) His Will was proved in 1647. Stapleton's cuirassiers were called " Essex's Life -Guard," and corresponded to Lord Bernard Stuart's cavalier troop. Sir William Constable. Son and heir of Sir Richard Constable, of Flamborough, co. York, Kt., by Anne, daughter and heiress of John Hussey, of Driffield. He was knighted by the Earl of Essex, in Ireland, in 1599, and created a Baronet, 29th June, 1611, He had been Colonel of a Regiment of Foot, and some time Governor of Gloucester, and was one of the signers of the death-warrant of King Charles I. His Will, dated 13th December, 1654, was proved 18th July, 1655, by his relict Dame Dorothy, who was the eldest daughter of Thomas, first Lord Fairfax. He left no issue, and the title became extinct. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, but, not only were his remains exhumed after the Restoration and thrown into the common pit in the church- yard, but his estates were especially excepted in the general pardon subsequently granted by King Charles II. His relict died 9th March, 1656, and was buried in the Church of St. Mary Bishophill Senior, York. Sir William Brooke. It is very probable that this Parliamentary officer fell at the first battle of Newbury, as on the 28th September, 108 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. 1643, the day that public thaiiks were given to certain members of the Commons engaged at Newbury, it was ordered that Sir Philij) Stapleton should bring in an Ordinance ' ' for the sequestring and disposing of the Michaelmas rents of Sir Wm. Brooke, to the use of his Lady and family ; and for the sequestring of the estate if it descend to Sir John Brooke." The Ordinance for " sequestring the estate of Sir Wm. Brooke, who lately died in the service of the Parliament," was assented to by the Commons on the 9th of October following, wherein Sir John Brooke is referred to as "now in actual arms against the Parliament." Sir William Brooke was the only son of George Brooke (3rd but 2nd survi-vdng son of William Brooke, 5th Lord Cobham, and younger brother of Henry, 6th and last Lord Cobham of the first creation). George Brooke was attainted and executed as a participator in " Raleigh's conspiricy," 5th December, 1603. He left issue, by Elizabeth his wife, daughter of Thomas, Lord Burgh, or Borough, one son, William. This William was restored in blood, and was created a Knight of the Bath at the coronation of King Charles I., in 1625. He married twice, but left issue only three daughters, and therefore left no direct heir male. Sir John Brooke (son and heir of Henry, younger son of George, 4th Lord Cobham) was in 1645, created Lord Cobham — the old title having expired in 1618, by the death of Henry, 6th Lord, while under attainder. This Sir John Brooke appears to have been the next male heir of Sir William, and accords with the statement in the Commons Journal. Sill William Balfour. Of the family of Balfour, of PitcuUo, co. Fife, Scotland, gentleman of the King's priyy-'Chamber, and Lieutenant of the Tower of London. Though he had great obligations to the Court, he made no scruple of attaching himself to its most violent opponents. He was turned out of his office as Lieutenant of the Tower a little before the breaking out of the Civil AVar, and was succeeded by Col. Lunsford. At the battle of Edgehill, Sir William Balfour com- manded the reserve, and did eminent service. He led also the right wing of horse at the Second Battle of Newbury. His Will was proved in 1661. Sir Samuel Luke. Governor of Newport -Pagnell in 1645. The supposed original of Butler's 'Hudibras,' and author of the 'Journal of the Siege of Reading,' printed in Coate's history of that towTi. Major-General SiarroN. Philip Skippon was Sergeant-Major- Generalof the Parliamentary army, Major- General of the London militia, and Governor of Bristol. After the passing of the "self-denying ordinance," he was preferred to the same post in the army that he held before ; to which he was thought justly to be entitled on the ground of merit. He was president of the Council of War under the Earl of Essex, and both in the cabinet and the field approved himself an excel- lent soldier. He commanded the infantry at the battle of Naseby, where he exerted himself \ni\\ his usual intrepidity. ' ' Magnanimous Skippon, ' ' says May, ' ' was grievously wounded, yet would not forsake the battle ; but with all possible endeavours performed his part, till the victory was obtained." He was a zealous republican, and went the greatest lengths -with that party. His name frequently occurs as a member of the House of Commons in the Interregnum. He was also one of Cromwell's Council of State, and had £1,000 a year in lands of inheritance assigned him by the Parliament for his services. The Duke of Buckingham's estate at Bletchley was given to him, on that noble- man's forfeiture ; but at the Restoration it reverted to its right owner. Skippon' s colours were: — "From the deiter corner blue clouds and APPENDIX. 109 therefrom issuing a naked arm and hand proper, holding a sword proper, hilted or, before this, paleways, a book closed and clasped or ; beneath these, on two lines in writing ' Ora et pugna. Juvat et juvabit, Jehovah ; ' fringed gold and argent." (Prestwich's ' Eespublica,' p. 38.) Major-Genekal Deane. The well-known Parliamentary General- at-Sea. He was the eldest son of Edward Deane, of Pinnock, co. Glou- cester, Esq., by his second wife, Ann Wase. (For an elaborate and admirable account of him and his career, consult his ' Life, ' by the Rev. John Bathurst Deane, published by him in 1870.) He was killed during the naval engagement \^n.th the Dutch on the 2nd June, 1653, when only in his 42nd year. He married at the Temple Church, 21st May, 1647, Mary, daughter of John Grimsditch, of Knottingley, York, Esq., who survived him, and married at St. Bartholomew the Great, London, 2nd January, 1654-5, Col. Edward Salmon, another well-known Parliamentarian. Colonel [he is described as "Colonel " in the Eegis- ter] Deane' s remains were ignominiously exhumed after the Restora- tion, and, with those of others equally eminent in maintaining the honour of the British flag, thrown into a common pit in the church- yard. His Will, dated 31st March, 1653, was proved 20th January, 1653-4, by his relict. He left two daughters, Mary and Hannah. The stupid stories propagated by his political enemies as to his vulgar origin and early career, have been abundantly disproved by his recent biographer ; and posterity is already doing justice to his memory. Lieut. -Genekal Middletox. See Appendix to the Second Battle. CoL. Arthur Goodwin. Of Upper Winchendon, co. Bucks. The intimate friend and neighbour of John Hampden, and his colleague in the representation of the County of Bucks in the Long Parliament. Like him, he held a command under the Earl of Essex, and was quar- tered at Aylesbury in the first campaign. The following letter from Col. Goodwin to his daughter LadyAVharton, is exceptionally interesting from the circumstances under wliich it was written : — "Deere Jenny, — I am now heere at Hampden in doinge the last duty for the deceased owner of it, of whome every honest man hath a share in the losse, and therefore will likewise in the sorrowe : In the loss of such a friend to my owne particular, I have no cause of discontent, butt rather to bless God that he hath not accordinge to my deserts bereft me of you, and all the comforts deerest to me : All his thoughts and endeauours of his life was zealously in for this cause of Gods, wch he continued in all his sickness, even to his death ; for all I can heere the last words he spake was to mee, though he lined six or 7 howers after I came away as in a sleepe : truly Jenny (and I know you may easily be persuaded to it) he was a gallant man, an honest man, an able man, and take all, I know nott to any man hueinge second, God now in mercy hath rewarded him. ... I have Aviitt to London for a black suite, I pray let me begg of you a broad black Ribbon to hange about my Standard. . . , . I would we all lay it to heart, that God takes away the best amongst us, I pray the Lord to bless you. . . . Yr ever, deere Jenny, most affectionate father, Af- Goodwin. Hampden, June 26, 1643."* Col. Goodwin did not hve vciy long after the death of his friend Hampden, but the exact date of his death cannot be ascertained. His Will was proved 11th November, 1644, by Philip, Lord AVharton, and Jane his wife, daughter of the deceased. CoL. Edward Massey, or Massie. Major-General. Originally an active Parliamentarian, and the celebrated Governor of Gloucester * Carte's MSS., Letters, Bibl. Bodl. v. 103-, No. 40. 110 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. during its siege ; subsequently as active a Royalist, and, in the words of Clarendon, "looked upon as a martyr for the Presbyterian interest." He was the fifth son of John Massie, of Coddington, Cheshire, by Anne, daughter of Richard Grosvenor, of Eaton. CoL. Sheffield. Younger son of the Earl of Mulgrave. CoL. John Meldrum. There appears to have been two eminent military men of this name, both Scotchmen, and both named John, who are often confounded in contemporaneous history, 8ir John Meldrum, who was knighted at Windsor 6th August, 1622, was undoubtedly the one who took part in the memorable actions at Newark, Hull, Scar- borough, &c., and received his death -wound at the last place. His WiU, dated 24th May, 1645, was proved 2nd June, 1647. The Meldrum named in the Kst of Parliamentary Officers who fought at Newbury was no doubt Colonel John Meldrum, who was killed at Alresford, Hants. His name occurs in the List of the Parliamentary Army in 1642, as Lieutenant of the Second Troop of Horse, under the general command of William, Earl of Bedford ; and he evidently obtained rapid promotion. As the Battle of Bramdean (or Cheriton) Heath, near Alresford, took place on the 29th March, 1644, and his nuncupative Will was made on the 8th of April following, it is probable he was mortally wounded on that day ; or, the two dates may be identical, allowing for the difference between Old and New Style. The Will states that he was "very much wounded." It was proved 16th Novem- ber, 1648, by his relict Jane, then a minor, who, in 1655, petitioned the Parliament as the widow of the ' ' eldest colonel of horse in the late army," slain at Cheriton fight. She has waited seven years for the arrears of her husband without receiving anything whatever, and is starving, applies for aid ' ' among other distressed widows whom God has put it into your heart to relieve." Col. Meldrum' s remains were included amongst those of other eminent Parliamentarians which were exhumed after the Restoration, and thrown into a common pit in St. Margaret' s churchyard. CoL. Norton. See Appendix to the Second Battle. CoL. Dalbier. a Dutch engineer and Quarter-Master-General in the Parliamentary army. "It was from Dalbier," says Heath, " that Cromwell first of all learnt the mechanical part of soldiering ; and who helped him to diill his Ironsides." We find Dalbier' s name mentioned in the old Chronicles as early as 1628, when it was proposed that he and Sir William Balfour should raise 1000 German horse for the Eng- lish expedition against France, a project, however, not carried into effect. He aj^pears to have entered the Parliament's service soon after the breaking out of hostilities, and distinguished himself by his valour and conduct on many occasions. He was at the battle of Edgehill, at Brentford fight, and several minor actions in 1642. In the month of May, 1643, he was a prisoner for debt in the King's Bench, but by some means obtained his liberty, whereupon a suit was commenced against Sir John Lenthall, the Governor, for permitting his escape. The proceedings were stayed by the order of the Commons; Dalbier having become "a great officer in the army." He was engaged in the first battle of Newbury, at Cheriton Down, near Alresford, 29th March, 1644, where he was wounded, and served with Essex in Corn- wall, where he narrowly escaped being taken prisoner. In May, 1645, he was under accusation and restraint, but was released, and took part the same year in the battle of Naseby, the capture of Winchester Castle and Baying House, where he was second to Cromwell in com- mand, and received the thanks of Parliament for his services. He APPENDIX. Ill conducted the final siege of Donnington Castle, ■which was surrendered to him, on Articles, 3Uth March, 1646. Being left out of the New Model Army and dissatisfied with his treatment, he joined the rising of the Earl of Holland, and was killed in an Inn at St. Neots, Huntingdon, July 5th, 1618. Capt. Hunt. An officer in one of the city regiments of trained- bands, slain in the First Battle of Newbury. The ' Mercurius Aulicus ' of October 1st, 1613, has the following notice of Captain Hunt : — "A confect. maker, in St. Mary, Woolnooth. This Hunt was the first that committed sacrilege in Ms own parish church (after John Pym's orders for defacing of churches), pulling down the cross from the King's crown over the font, lojjping oif the hands and pulling out the eyes from the tombs and monuments, cutting olf the cherubim's wings placed upon the arches, and (which both Christian and Jew will abhore) blotting out the dreadful name of God as it stood over the command- ments, in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. In tliis Hunt's pockets were found his watch, his commission from the rebels, an assessment roll of his neighbours at Hackney i)arish, besides £16 in money, which the souldier had who stript off Ms Buff." Capt, Francis St. Barbe. He was fourth and youngest, but second surviving son of Henry St. Barbe, Esq., of Ashington, co. Somerset, and Broadlands, Hants. His name occurs in the list of killed in the first engagement at Newbury. Capt. Hammond. This was probably tlie same Capt. Hammond who was engaged in the Second Battle, at Shaw, and the King's gaoler at Carisbrooke Castle. Capt. Charles Fleetwood, afterwards the distinguished Parliamen- tary general, the son of Sir William Fleetwood, cupbearer to King Charles I., and comptroller of Woodstock-park. On the breaMng out of the war between King and Parliament, young Fleetwood declared for the latter. He commanded a regiment of cavalry in 1644, and held the rank of Lieut. -General at the battle of Worcester, to the gaimng of which, by Cromwell, he largely contributed. He married the Protector's daughter after the death of her first husband Ireton, and was appointed commander of the forces in Ireland in 1652. He strongly opposed Cromwell assuming the title of King in 1657 ; and was soon after superseded in Ireland by Henry Cromwell, the Protector's youngest son. On the death of Cromwell, he concurred in the appoint- ment of Eichard as his successor, but soon after joined in inducing him to resign, and thus paved the way for the Restoration. He died 4th October, 1692, and was buried in Bunhill Fields, Capt. Charles Pym. OMy surviving son of John Pym, of Brym- more, in the county of Somerset, M.P. for Tavistock, one of the most celebrated actors in the eventful drama which terminated in the execu- tion of Charles I. Capt. Charles Pym commanded a troop of horse in the Parliament's service, and was a member of the Parliament of 1640, and of the Pensionary Parliament of 1661. He married Catherine, daughter of Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Bart., of Harrow-on-the-Hill, and was created a Baronet, 14th July, 1663. He died about 1672. His oMy son Charles succeeded as second Baronet, but died unmarried, being killed in a tavern brawl in Old Fish Street, London, 4tli May, 1688, and was buried 8th May at Harrow-on-the-Hill, when the title became extinct. The family estates passed to his sister Mary, who married Sir Thomas Hales, second Baronet, of Bekesbourne, Kent. William Twissb, D D., Rector of Newl3ury. The son of a clotMer at Newbury, whose father had immigrated from Germany. He was 112 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. born at Speeuhamland about 1575, in a house said to have stood in the Lamb-and-Castle Yard. He was educated at Winchester and Oxford, became a Fellow of New College, lltli March, 1597-8, and was pre- sented to the living of Newbury in 1620 by the Prince of Wales, after- wards Charles I. Twisse was appointed Prolocutor of the Assembly of Divines under the Commonwealth ; but on account of his age and infirmities he was soon unable to attend the sittings of the Assembly, and in a few months was taken ill and laid upon his bed, where he lingered for about a year, and died July 20th, 1646. His funeral in Westminster Abbey was attended b}^ most of the members of the House of Commons and the whole of the Assembly of Divines, but his remains were included among those disinterred after the Restoration. His Will, dated 9th September, 1645, with a codicil, 30th June, 1646, was proved 6th August in the latter year. He would seem not to have been so reduced in circumstances as the accounts of him usually repre- sent, for, besides other not inconsiderable legacies, he bequeathed his manor of Ashampstead, Berks, to trustees for the benefit of his younger son. He left four sons and three daughters, but his wife, Frances, daughter of Barnabas Colnett, of Combly, Isle of Wight, had pre- deceased him. There is a portrait of Dr. Twisse in the vestry of New- bury Church, which appears, from the Churchwarden's accounts, to have been either painted by, or purchased of, one Richard Jerome, in 1647, a year after Twisse' s death, at a cost of one pound fifteen shillings. The following is the entry in the Churchwarden's book : — " 1647. — Paid to Richard Jerome for Dr. Twisse his picture. 1. 15. 0." Dr. Ward, the antiquary, mentions this picture as having been much damaged by cleaning, in 1745. Robert Codringtox. The author of the account of the battle, originally printed in 1646, from which extracts have been taken, was second son of Robert Codrington, Esq., of Codrington, co. Gloucester. He was elected Demy of Magdalen College, Oxford, 29th July, 1619, when he was about 17 years of age, and took his M.A. degree in 1626. After that he travelled into several foreign lands, and at his return lived a gentleman's life, first in Norfolk, where he married, and finished his life in London by the plague in the year 1665. He published many pieces on different subjects in his life-time, and left several manuscripts prepared for the press. Though Codrington plainly declares himself a Parliamenteer, his liistory, so far as it goes, is the least exceptionable and the most comprehensive of any writings on the same subject, in those times ; for, besides the character of his hero, the Earl of Essex, he gives us the general opinion, and the ground of the first j)art of the Civil War ; and seems to relate the natural facts without aggravation. He always speaks of the King's Majesty with respect, ascribing the ill-conduct of his affairs and bad success to the wickedness and heat of the counsels he received; and heartily wishing a good and lasting reconciliation and peace between the Ejing and his Parliament. (' Life and death of Robert, Earl of Essex,' Haiieian MisceU., vol. i., pp. 211, 212.) APPENDIX. 113 VII. EXTRACTS FROM THE CERTIFICATES OR RETURNS OF THOSE PERSONS WHO, PURSUANT TO AN ORDER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, MADE THE PROTESTA- TION IN THE COUNTY OF BERKS, 30th JULY, 1641. This Protestation was reported and agreed to in the Commons, and ordered to be made by every member of that House, on the 3rd May, 1641. It was agreed tt) by the Lords, and ordered to be made by every member of their House on the folk-wing day. Subsequently it was resolved that the Protestation is fit to be made by every one, and that that j)erson soever who shall not make the same is untit to bear office in the Church or Commonwealth, and that it is "A Shibboleth to discover a true Israelite." The Protestation runs as follows: — I, A. B., do in the presence of Almighty God promise, vow, and j)rotest to maintain and defend as far as lawfully I may with my Life, Power, and Estate, the true Reformed Frotestant Religion expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England against aU Popery and Popish Innovations, within this Realm, con- trary to the same Doctrine, and according to the duty of my allegiance to His Majesty's Royal Person, Honour, and Estate, as also the Power and Privileges of Parliaments, the la-w^ful Rights and Liberties of the Subjects, and every Person that maketh this Protestation in whatso- ever he shall do in the lawful Pursuance of the same ; and to my power, and as far as lawfully I may I will oppose and by all good Ways and Means endeavour to bring to Condign Punishment aU such as shall, either by Force, Practice, Counsels, Plots, Conspii-acies, or otherwise, do anything to the contrary of any thing in this present Protestation contained, and further, that I will in all just and honourable ways endeavour to preserve the Union and Peace betwixt the Three King- doms of England, Scotland, and Ireland : and neither for Hope, Fear, nor other Respect, shall relinquish this Promise, Vow, and Protestation. — Lords Jolrnal, iv. 234. The extracts following are made from the original returns preserved at the House of Lords, by permission of Sir William Rose, K.C.B., Clerk of Parliaments. Brimpton Parish — Mr. Thos. Bird (minister) and parishioners. Chaddleworth Parish — Thomas Nelson, Thomas Tipping, John Blagrave, and several members of the Bartholomew and Pocock families. Chieveley Parish — Richard Nixon (vicar), John Money, Laurence Money, Riclid. Pocock, sen., Richd. Pocock, jun., Edward Aubery, sen., John Aubery, jun., John Dolman, jun. ; Gyles Smith, and Peter Holdways, churchwardens ; Edward Paty, and Richard Cliaulk, over- seers ; Stephen Butler, constable. CoMPToi^ Parish — Richard Hasell, Minister, Richard Pottinger, sen , Richard Pottinger, jun., Robert Ffetiplace. Enborne Parish — Edward Blandy, Mr. William Elk, jun., George Mathews, John Mathews, William Lovelock, Bartholomew Hasell,AVm. Elk, Rector of Enboine ; Mr. Philip Hedd and Edward Bromley, Churchwardens ; Paul Hunt, High Constable. But Wm. Holmes, Sen. above 4 score years old and deaf and feeble ; and John Holmes, jun., a 114 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. simple young man and lame ; and Wm. Plantin, 3 score and 12 or above, and infirm and decayed both inwardly and outwardly in mind and all other means, and Saml. Lyt'ord, and John Warner, jpoore dis- abled men, and Francis Belcher, a yonge swageringe stranger who hath lately at Newto-\\ai married Margaret Nalder, and is now living ^^dth his wife at Enborne, have not made protestation. Frilsham — The Protestation taken in the public congregation and signed by Samuel Watkins, pastor there, Richd. Smallbone, Luke Hore, and members of the Fisher, Pocock, Newbery, Chamberlain, and other families. Greenham ( a Tything of Thatcham) — All most \\dllingly took the Protestation, not one refusing. John Howes, John A\'arde, Thos. Barnes, James Osgood, Edward Kiggill, Thos. Collins, sen., Thos. Collins, jun., Wm. Hawkins, Jno. Degweede, Jno. Pocock, Joseph Hickman, John Hickman ; Simon Ffarant, Curate ; Thos. Osgood, constable ; Thos. Knighton, churchwarden ; Edward Oreen, overseer ; Thos. Parker, tythingman. Hamsted-Marshall — Thomas Slocock, Jo. Slocock, Ric. Slocock, and others. All the residents in the parish signed, except Wm. Bunn now four score, and Thos. Pary who is in AViltshire and has not had warning, both are good protestants and would not refuse to sign the protestation. Saml. Paine, curate ; John May and Thos. George, churchwardens. The names of Baker, Dore, Bartholomew, Harding, Lovegrove, Tubb, Holmes, Crooke, and Toms appear as residents in the parish at this time. Hamsted-Norris— Wm. Moore, vicar. Protestation signed by the Palmer, Dore, Boseley, Matthews, Abery, Goddard, Marriner, Kimber, and Howse families. The following refused, Henry Prince, Andrew Prince, Richard Brabrooke, Esq. West Ilsley — John Head, minister, &c. East Ilsley — Joseph Warner, minister, &c. Refusals — John Boultou, Henry Lipeat, recusants. Signed, Giles Pocock, Jo. Ambrose, church- wardens ; James Pottinger, constable. Inkpex — Richard Money the elder, Richard Money the younger, John Brickenden, rector ; AVm. Kirke, Ffortunatus Hambling, church- wardens ; Humphrey Banks and William Bayley are from home. KiNTBURY — Sir John Dorrell, John Dorrell, Esq., Alex. Browne, John Gunter, Robert Elgar, John Elgar, Robt. Field, Wm. Hazell, Robt. Ffidler, Richd. Blandy. WaUingtons — Sir Jno. Kingsmill, Charles Gunter, Marmacluke Gunter. Inglncood and BaJsden — Thos. Lowder, Thos. Webbe, Willni. Webbe, James Choke. Tt/ thing of Holt— ^"'iWrn. Nalder, James Nalder, — FaithfuU ; Francis Allen, vicar ; Edwd. Butcher, Robt. Field, churchwardens ; Thos. Mountigue, Jas. Wiggins, overseers. Leckhamstead — Giles Hatt, Richd. Blagrave, Henry Blagrave. Signed also by parishioners of the name of Adnams, Head, Maskell, Selwood, Whistler, Wernham, Buckeridge, &c. Henry Greetham, clerke, Giles Spicer, constable, Richd. Hatt, overseer, John Spicer, Edwd. Averill, churchwardens. MiDGHAM — John Tull, absent, Thos. A\liite, Thos. Bird, absent at court, Thos. Prior, curate, Thos. Tull, Richd. May, churchwardens. Newbury— Willm. Pearse, maior, Willm. Twisse, rector, Timothy Avery, gent., Richd. Tomlyne, Esq., Richd. Avery, gent., Richd. Waller, gent., Hugh Hawkins, gent., John Houghton, gent., John Cooke, gent., John Wheatly, curate, John Barksdale, gent., John Edmonds, GabrieU Cox, Richd. HolweU, Edd. Trenchard, Esq., Hemy APPENDIX 115 Trenchard, gent., Thos. Knight, Adam Head, John Hamblin, Joell Dance, Richd. Cox, John Bruce, Mr. Dunce, Esq., Philip Weston, "Wm. Waller, Wni. Bew, John Merryman, gent., Nathaniel Hemp- steed, Edwd. Blandy, Ed. Avery, James Purdue, Thos. Pearse, John Dibley, Francis Norris, Willm. Smart, John Waulter, Thos. Wilson, Joseph Gilmore, Alexdr. Gilmore, sen., Alexdr. Gilmore, jun., George Cowslade, Thos. Cowslade, Richd. Shaw, John Mundy, gent., Thos. Virtue, Thos. Sansuni, Wm. Curteis, Joseph Nalder, W. Arundell, W. Nash, Mr. E. Lovelock, gent., Wm. Goddin, Richd. Bowyer, Thos. Jemmett, John Hoare, Thos. Somersby, Thos. Gray, &c., &c. No refusals to sign the Protestation in the parish of Newbury, Wm. Twisse, rector, Briant Linch, Ralph Kingham, churchwardens. The Protestation taken before Humphrey Dolman and Roger Knight, two of His Majesty's Justices of the County of Berks, 1641. Peasemore — Edd- Lyford, rector, John Stampe, gent. Signed also by Dew, Bew, Drew, Tanner, Fisher, Aubery, GarHck, Hide, Caulcott, Hatt, Clark, Harding, and others. Shaw-cum-Donnington — Francis Rowland, sen., Francis Rowland, jun., Wm. Bosley, Thos Dolman, Richd. Money, John Blagrave, John Nalder, John Graye, Richd. Kinge, Wm. Portlucke, Mr. Griffin Don- castle, and Mr. Richard Smith, of Grange, John and Robt. Hastinges, Gyles Stampe, John Roy>ton, rector, Roger Whatley and Wm. Snows- well, churchwardens, Thos. Shipton, John Norcroft, and John Challis, overseers of Poore. Little Sheei^ord — John Prime, rector. With the exception of the Rector, none of the parishioners could sign tlieir names, but all put their ' ' mark. ' ' Great Shefford — Jo. Nixon, rector. Geo. Browne, Esq., Elleanor Browne, his mfe, Elleanor Browne his daughter — These desired a long time to consider, which was refused. (4eorge BroAvne son of Geo. Browne, aforesaid, and Morrice Jonathan, servant — would sign in all except the part against Popery. Anne Cooper, Anne Northover — pro- fessing themselves simple maidens requested time to consider on the part of religion. Elizbh. Wylder, Ursula Wylder, widow, daughter of said Elizabeth — absolutely refuse to sign the Protestation. John Arundell, constable and churchwarden. Speen — Thos. Castillian, Esq., Jo. Barker, and others, John Barker, minister. Wasing — Thos. Walker or Walthen, rector. Welford— Hinton, Esq., and others, John Mundy, clerk. Winterkorne Danv£V!s in the parish of Cbieveley — Henry Greetham, clerk, Laurence Head, Thomas Kimber, and others. IK) TITE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY Vni. LIST OF THE SEQUESTRATORS OF THE ESTATES OF "DELINQUENTS, PAPISTS, SPYES, AND INTELLI- GENCERS," FOR THE COUNTY OF BERKS ; APPOINTED UNDER ORDINANCE OF THE LORDS AND COMMONS, APRIL 1st, 1643. Sir Francis Pile, Bart. (1) ; Sir Francis KnoUys, jun., Knt. (2) ; Peregrine Hobby (3) ; Henry Marten (4) ; Roger Knight (5) ; Henry Fowl (6) ; Thomas Fettiplace (7) ; and Tanfield Vachell (8), Esquires.* (1). Sir Francis Pile, second Baronet. Sat for the County of Berks in the second Parliament of 1640, succeeding on the disablement of Mr. John Fettiplace in 1646. The first of the family who was created a baronet was Francis, of Compton-Beauchamp, who received that honour from Charles I , 12th September, 1628, for his ser^dces to the Crown. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Francis Popham, of Littlecote, knt., and dying in 1635. he was succeeded by his eldest son, the member for the county above mentioned. The baronetcy became extinct 4th May, 1761, on the demise of the 6th baronet. (2). Sir Francis Knollys, Jun., second son of the famous Sir Francis Knollys, K.G., Treasurer of Queen Elizabeth's household and captain of the Guard, who received from his royal mistress the grants of Whitley Park (the Abbot's park mentioned by Leland as being at the entrance to Reading town), and the manor or farm of Battle, which also belonged to Reading Abbey. Sir Francis resided at the Abbey- house of Reading at the period of the Civil War. Captain Symonds, who was at Reading in 1644, described the dining-room at the Abbey- house as having the arms and initials of Queen Elizabeth, for whose reception it was probably fitted up. Sir Francis, jun., the sequestrator, sat for the county of ]3erks in the Parliaments of 1614-25, and for Reading in those of 1625-26-28-40 until his demise in 1645. (3). Peregrine Hoby, son of Sir Edward Hoby, of Bisham, co. Berks, who received the honour of a visit from Queen Elizabeth at Bisham, in 1592, who, when Princess, had spent part of three years here, under the guardianship of Sir Thomas Hoby. Edward, the son of Peregrine, was created a baronet 12th July, 1666, a title which became extinct on the death of the Rev. Sir Philip Hoby, fifth baronet, June 29th, 1766. (4). Henry Marten. The Regicide. Son of Sir Henry Marten, of Longworth, near Faringdon, Dean of Arches, Judge of the Prerogative Court and of the High Court of Admiralty, who was esteemed the first civilian of the age. His ''ungodly son," as Wood calls him, represented the county of Berks in the Parliaments of 1640-40, and was governor of Reading in 1642, but on the approach of a party of the King's horse Marten quitted the town and fiecl with his garrison. After the Restora- tion, Marten surrendered on the Proclamation, and was tried at the Old Bailey. He was found guilty, and petitioned for pardon, which he obtained on condition of perpetual imprisonment. He was first con- ♦ This Committee sat at Reading Abbey. APPENDIX. 117 fined in the Tower, but soon removed to the Castle at Chepstow, where he was incarcerated twenty years. Marten was buried in the Church at Chepstow, and over his remains was placed a stone with the follow- ing inscription, the acrostic epitaph being ^\^.itten by himself. " Here Sep 9, in the year of our 1 ord 16S0, Was buried a true Englishman, Who in Berkshire was well known To love his countrj^'s freedom, 'Viove bis own, But living immured full twenty year. Had time to write, as does appear, HIS EPITAPH. H ere or elsewhere (all's one, to you, to me,) E artb. air, or water, gripes my ghostly dust N one knows how soon to be by fire set free R eader, if you an oft tryed rule will trust, Y ou'il glad'ly do and sulTer what you must. ^^ y life was spent in serving you, and you, A nd death's my pay (it seems) and welcome too ; R evenge destroying but itself, while I T birds of prey leave my old cage and fly, E xamples preach to th' eye, care then, mine says) N ol how you end, but how you spend your dayes. " Carlyle gives the following characteristic notice of Henry Marten in his 'Oliver "Cromwell's Letters and Speeches,' (vol. iii., p. KiS). "Harry Marten is a tight little fellow, though of somewhat loose life : his witty words pierce yet, as light -arrows, through the thick oblivious torpor of the generations ; testifying to us very clearly. Here was a right hard- headed, stout-hearted little man, full of sharp fire and cheerful light ; sworn foe of Cant in all its figures ; an indomitable little Eoman Pagan if no better : — but Harry is not quite one's King either ; it would have been difficult to be altogether loyal to Harry ! " (5). EoGER KxiGHT, of Greciiham. See Appendix to Second Battle. (6). Henry Powle. Of the family of Powles of Shottesbroke. This Henry Powle was High Sheriff of the County of Berks, 8 < ar. i, 1633. Mr. Powle' s younger' son Henry sat for AVindsor in the Convention Parliament of 1G88, over which he presided as Speaker, became Master of the Rolls, 13th March, 1689-1)0, and died 21st November, 1692. He married, in 1679, Frances, Countess Dowager of Dorset, relict of Richard Sackville, 5th Earl of Dorset. (7). Thomas Fettiplace, of Fernham, near Faringdon. (8). Tanfielt) Vachell, of Coley House. M.P. for Reading in the second Parliament of 1610 (Long Parliament), succeeding to that seat on the demise of Sir Francis Knollys, jun., knt., in 164.5. King Charles was at Coley House in May, 1644, which at this time belonged to John Hampden in right of his second wife, Letitia, daughter of Sir Francis Knollys, brother to AVilliam, Earl of Banbury, and widow of Sir Thomas Vachell. " Mr. Tanfield Vachell whom the King made Sheriff of Berks in 1643, and who left his service and went to Rebellion, whose house on the south side of the town was newly built upon the old priory and now pull'd down, is cousin and heir to ye .said Sir Thomas Vachell, his uncle. 'Tis reported in Reading an old story of Vachell, yt would not suffer ye Abbot of Reading to carry the hay tiirough his yard, ye Abbot after many messengers, sent a Monk, whom Vachell in fury kill'd, he was forced to fly, and his kin after adopted the motto, ' It is better to suffer than revenge.' " (Symond's 'Church Notes,' Harl. MSS., 965, Mus. Brit.) 118 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. IX. THE COMMISSIONERS FOR RAISING MONEY AND FORCES WITHIN THE COUNTY OF BERKS, AND FOR MAINTENANCE OF GARRISONS WITHIN THE SAID COUNTY FOR USE OF PARLIAJNIENT, APPOINTED JUNE 27th, 1644, were :— William Lenthall, Speaker and Master of the Rolls (1), Sir Francis KnoUys, Knt., Sir Francis Pile, Bart., Sir Robert Pye, son. (2), Sir Benjamin Rudyerd, Knt. (3), Richard Wliitehead, Edward Dunch (4), Henry Marten, Peregrine Hoby, Tanfield Vachell, Daniel Blagrave (5), Major- General Richard Browne (6), William Ball, John Packer, sen. (7), Robert Packer (8), and Cornelius Holland (9). (1). William Lenthall (the Speaker of the Long Parliament), of Besilsleigh, co. Berks, who purchased this property' of the Fettiplaces, in 1634. The old mansion, which was a magnihcent structure sur- rounded by a quadrangular court, is now destroyed except a picturesque portion of the offices and the massive stone pillars of the gateway. Cromwell and other distinguished characters of the day were frequent guests at Besilsleigh. The elder branch of the Lenthalls became extinct at the decease of William Lenthall, a gentleman of the Privy Chamber to Charles II., M.P. for Wallingford in 1680. The family is now represented by Edm. Kyffin Lenthall, Esq., of Besilsleigh. (2). Sir Robert Pye, Sen. Soon after the commencement of the Civil War the house of Sir Robert Pye, sen., at Faringdon, was garrisoned for the King. His son. Sir Robert Pye, jun., was a prominent member of the Parliamentary party ; and ultimately was e;|ually zealous for the restoration of Charles II., who appointed him one of his equerries. Sir Robert Pye the elder died in 1662. His son Robert, who married a daughter of John Hampden, died in 1701, within a week of the death of his wife. His great-great-grandson was the poet laureat Henry James Pye. (3). Sir Benjamin Rudyerd, Knt., of West Woodhay, near Newbury, descended from the Rudyerds of Rudyerd, co. of Stafford ; third son of James Rudyerd, Esq., of Hartley, co. Hants, by Margaret his wife, daughter and heiress of Lawrence Kidwelly, of Winchfield, in the same county, esquire. Sir Benjamin was born on St. Stephen's day, 1572, in the parish of East Woodhay, Hants, and educated at the public school, Winchester, and St. John's College, Oxford. By the influence of his patron, Sir John Harrington, afterwards Lord Harrington of Exton, preceptor to the accomplished but unfortunate Princess Elizabeth, Rudyerd soon obtained a favour- able reception at the court of King James I. and in the above-mentioned noble family, distinguished alike by their talents and piety, he, no doubt, received those lessons of moderation which so greatly distinguished his whole political career. From that family, too, he chose a partner in the joys and sorrows of his life, in the person of Elizabeth, one of the two daughters and co -heiresses of Sir Henry APPENDIX. 119 Harrington, next brother to John, first Lord Harrington of Exton. On the 9th INlarch, 1617, Ruclyerd was appointed to the then high and distingiiished office of Surveyor of His Majesty's Court of Wards and Liveries, and on the 30th of the same montli. King James honoured him with the degree of knighthood. U]3on the differences arising be- tween King Chark's I. and the Parliament, Sir Benjamin was one of the several members of both houses who did all they could to j)ei'f:uade the Parliament to an accommodation, and warned them of the miseries of a civil war. On the abolition of the Court of AN'ards and Liveries in 1647, £6,000 was voted to Rudyerd, and so great was the esteem of the House towards him that they further voted him a part of the forfeited estates of the Marquis of- Worcester as a reparation for the loss of his office, but notwithstanding these marks of favour, he was heartily dis- gusted with the disloyal attempts of the Independents, and he stood to his post to the last moment advocating ni( 'deration and deprecating destruction. In December, 1648, Eudyerd and other well affected members of the Parliament having been beaten on the 4th instant, question, ' ' whether the King' s answers to the propositions of both Houses were satisfactory," on the 6th, the question was varied by the King's friends, among whom Eudyerd stood prominently forward, in the hope of further averting the progress of the rebellion, and making a happy peace with the Sovereign, then a prisoner. It was now put in these terms, ' ' that the answer of the King to the propositions of both Houses are a ground for the House to proceed upon for the settlement of the peace of the kingdom," which was carried by a majority of 129 to 83. Such an unexpected occurrence threw Cromwell and the Par- liamentary generals into the greatest consternation, and the result was the well-knowai coup d'etat, when all the obnoxious members were seized as they arrived at the House : one of the victims on this occasion was Eudyerd, then 76 years of age, who was thrown into prison with the rest. It appears Eudyerd did not remain in confinement any length of time, as the Journals of the House of Commons record his release from the Gate-house shortly afterwards, o^\ing,it is said, to the influence of Mr. Prynne. Sir Benjamin then retired to his hottse at West Woodhay, built for him by Inigo Jones, and spent the remainder of his days in the c^uiet to which his mind must have been a stranger while engaged in the political struggles of the times. Sir Benjamin died at West Woodhay on the 31st May, 1658, aged 86 years ; a few months only before the death of Cromwell. He was buried in the Church at West Woodltay, where in Ashmole's time there was " a neat black marble monument ' ' to his memory, with an epitaph said to have been written by Sir Benjamin in his younger days. It is printed in Ashmole's 'Collections,' and in the 'History of Newbury,' p. 289, The only son of Sir Benjamin married one of the five daughters and co-heirs of Sir Stephen Plarvey, of Morton Murrell, in the co. of Warwick (created Knight of the Bath at the coronation of King Charles I.), and by this connection Mr. Eudyerd was brother-in-law to the celebrated Speaker Lenthall. Mr. John Eudyerd, the ingenious designer of the Eddystone Light- house erected in 1701 and which stood until destroyed by fire in 1755, was a descendant of Sir Benjamin. (4). Edmund DuNCH. Member for Wallingford in the Parliaments of 1628-40, and for the County in the Parliaments of 1654-56. His return to the Long Parliament was declared void. Mr. Dunch, High Sheriff of the Cotmty, 9 Car. 1, 1632-3, was the son of Sir William Dunch, who married Mary, daughter of Sir Henry CromweU, and aunt 120 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. to the Protector. In 1658 he was created a baronet, and afterwards called to the Upper House by the title of Baron Burnell, of which he was divested at the Restoration ; he died in 1678. Edmund Dunch, grandson of "Baron Burnell," married a daughter and co-heiress of Col. Charles Godfrey, Master of the Jewel Office, by Arabella Churchill, sister to the great Duke of Marlborough, and one of the mistresses of King James II., when Duke of York, by whom she had four children. This marriage is somewhat remarkable, as Mrs. Dunch being half-sister to the legitimate children of James II., the blood of the Cromwells and Stuarts was thereby commingled. On the death of Edmund Dunch in 1719, without male issue, his family became extinct. (5). Daniel Blagraye, of Southcote, one of the regicides, was third son of Anthony Blagrave, Esq., and nephew of the eminent mathemati- cian who built Southcote Manor-house. He represented the borough of Reading in Parliament ; and, as a reward for his services to the Commonwealth, received the office of "Exigenter" in the Court of Common Pleas, worth annually at that time £500, and was made Master in Chancery. He was likewise Treasurer of Berkshire, and one of the County Committee, who were authorized to remove all " inefficient " ministers, in which office he distinguished himself hj his vexatious persecution of the clergy. The emoluments of his office in the Common Pleas, it is svipposed, enabled him to purchase the King's fee-farm-rent of the valuable Manor of Sonning and some other estates ; and, having kept in vsdth every form of government during the Interregnum, he obtained a seat in the Convention Parliament of 1658. At the Restora- tion, finding the danger which threatened him, he fled the kingdom, and, retiring to Aix la Chapelle, died in 1668 in an obscure condition. John Blagrave, nephew of the above and son of Anthony Blagrave, by Dorothy, daughter of Sir Thomas Dolman, of Shaw, was one of the gentlemen of Berks who had assisted in the Restoration, and qualified to be made a knight of the proposed Order of the Royal Oak. This family of the Blagraves, of Bulmarsh Court and Southcote, became extinct in the male line on the demise of John Blagrave, Esq., in 1787, and is now represented through the female line by J. H. Blagrave. Esq., of Calcot Park. (6). Richard Browts^e. Major-General of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire. Was an eminent citizen of London, a warm advocate for the presbytery, an excellent officer in the held, and had no small influence! in the Parliament. He attended the Earl of Essex when he tirst marched against the King ; and had a considerable hand in defeating the Roynlists near Worcester and at Edgehill. He took Arundel Cattle by storm, and, seizing on Abingdon, bravely defended it against the whole force of the garrison at Oxford. In a sudden sally from Abingdon he surprised and took Bellasith House, which was strongly garrisoned by tl'ie royal party, and found in it a good supply of provision. He was one of the Commissioners deputed to receive the King from the Scottish army, when, " perceiving the great advantage His Majesty had in his disputes with their politicians and divines, and probably penetrating the designs of the Independents, he returned to his allegiance, and ever after inflexibly adhered to it." He was much in favour vnih Charles II., whose Resident he was in Paris before the Restoration, and was soon after created a baronet, having before received the honour of knighthood. He had the command of the City Militia, and was Lord Mayor of London in 1660. His onl}^ daughter APPENDIX. 121 and heiress espoused. John Evelpi* during her father's residence in France. (7). John Packer, of Donnington Castle. ) See Appendix to the (8). Egbert Packer, his son. j Second Battle. (9). Cornelius Holland, M.P. for Windsor. One of the King's judges. Once servant to Sir Harry Vane, hj whom he was preferred to be Clerk of the Green Cloth to the King, whose death-warrant he ultimately signed. Winstanley in his ' Mart jTTology, ' and the author of a work entitled ' The History of the King Killers,' concur in repre- senting this regicide as a man of great depravity. In a pamphlet entitled ' The Mystery of the G-ood Old Cause, ' it is stated that "Holland made himscK a farmer of the King's feeding-grounds at Crestlow, in Bucks, worth £1,800 or £2,000 per annum, at the rate of £20 a year, which he discounted. He possessed Somerset House a long time, where he and his family nested themselves. He was keeper of Eichmond House, which served for liis country -retreat. He was also commissary for the garrison at AVhitehall and the Mews, and he had an oihce in the Mint. It is supposed he gave £5,000 to each of his ten children ! " X. SHIP-MONEY "Ship-Money," a word, says Lord Clarendon, " of a lasting sound in the memory of this kingdom," indicates a project which in its pro- gress made the dissensions between King and Parliament irreparable, and in its consequences led to the misery of eleven years of almost uninterrupted Civil War. Schedules were prepared, and sent to each Sheriff, containing the list of all the counties, cities, and corporate towns, and the proportions in which each was rated, to the end that each district and community might be made aware that the contribution was enforced impartially. These Schedules present a view of the comparative wealth and import- ance of those places, which is remarkable in the contrast it affords with their respective conditions in present times. Distribution of Ships, with their Tonnage, Number of Men, and Charge, and the Sums set on the Corporation Towns in the County of Berks. (From Sir Peter Temple's MS. Papers — Stowe, given in the Appendix to Lord Nugent' s ' Life of Hampden.') tons. men. charge. Berkshire County One Ship of 320 128 £4000 Town of Windsor 100 Borough of Newbury 100 Borough of Eeading 220 Borough of Abingdon 100 Borough of Wallingford 20 Portsmouth was assessed at £60 ; Bath £70 ; Preston £40 ; Stafford •Cowley in his 'Garden,' addressed to this worthy gentleman, compliments him upon his taste for horticaltui-e and book s, and his happy choice of a wife, who had, as he expresses it, " The fairest garden in her looks, And in her mind the choicest books." Q 122 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. £30 ; and Liverpool £25. Such a disproportion to tlie present wealth of some of these j)laces shows what great changes have been produced since that date in their relative commercial importance. Petition of the Grand Jury of the County of Berks against Ship Money, &c.* To the King's Most Excelent Matie. The Humble Petition of your Maties most Loyall subjects the Grand Jury Impaneled 11 July, 1640, to serve at the generall assizes holden for the County of Berks, in the behalfe of themselves, and the rest of the Countie. Sheweth, That whereas your Petitioners have been of late yeares and stiU are much burthened with sundry grievances of divers natures deriving ther authority from yr Maje but being directly contrary to yr Maties Lawes established in this your kingdom, the cliief of these presenting themselves in a schedule hereunto annexed, for redresse, whereof, as your petitioners hoped, your Matie was graciously pleased about the midle of Aprill to assemble the great Councell commonly called the High Court of Parliament, and about three weeks after to dissolve it, for want (as it seemes to your petitioners) of a goode agreemente betwixt the two houses. Neverthelesse since the said dissolution to express such a fatherly care of your Poor people, that yr Matie has vouchsafed by a Printed declaration to invite tliem to the poureing out of their complaynts unto your Princely eare. It may therefore please your most Excellt. Matie to take the sayd particulers into your tender consideration, to give your Petitioners such ease therein, as in your Royall Wisdome shall be thought fitte. And whereby it may appeare to all your Maties Subjects, and especially to thos of yr Maties most honorable Privy Councell, and your Officers and Ministers of Justis, that yr Matie is resolved to continue unto them all their rights and Liberties which they desired by ther Petition of Eights and wer confirm' d by yr Matie the 3rd yeare of your rayne. And your Petitioners as they are bound shall continue to iDreserve the length and happinesseof yr Maties sayd raigne by ther prayers and all other actions, of zeal and duty. * A Schedule of such grievances as most oppresse the Countie. 1. — The lUegall and insupportable charge of Ship mony, now the Sth yeare Imposed as high as ever, though the subject was not able to pay the last year, being but a third. 2. — The new tax of coal and conduct mony, with the undermeanes used to enforce the pajonent of it by messengers from Counstable. 3. — The compellinge sume freemen by imprisonment and thretnings to take peoples mony, and others for feare of the like imprisonment to forsake ther houses and habitations hideing them selves in woods, whereby ther families are obliged to be maintayned by the parishes, and harvest work undon for want of Labourers. 4. — The Infinite number of monopolies ui)on every thing allmost the Countrymen must bye. Besides the easterne jiart of this Countie, wher your Maties afforest of Windsor is, is particularly burthened with immeasurable inroades of the deare, which if they shall goe on soe for five years will leave neither foode nor roome for any creatures in the fforest. * Addl. MSS., Brit. Mus., No. 24064, f. 9. APPENDIX. 123 With rigid execution of forest lawes in ther extremitye, with the exaction of the Imoderate fees by soni officers under the Ld.Cheef Justis in lyre [Eyre].* XI. STATE OF PUBLIC FEELING IN THE COUNTY IN 1643. That the County of Berks was generally favourable to the Parliament may be inferred from the following extract of Members returned to the Long Parliament, compiled by Professor Masson, and introduced in his * Life of Milton.' (The Shire and four Boroughs) No. of Members, Parliamentarians 5 Poyalists . . 2 So unstable as meanwhile to have changed sides 1 Non-effective 2 10 The Eoyalist element in the County is indicated by the following list of those who faithfully attached themselves to the interest of the King, and compounded for their estates, which had been sequestered by the Parliament. £ s. . Appleyard, Charles Wargrave 0003 10 00 Bunbury, Thomas f Reading Dr. 0117 00 00 Braxton, Anthony do 0100 00 00 Bishop, Richard Esq. 0385 00 00 Bricket, Thomas Shinfield 0012 08 08 * Lord Falkland felt and spoke strongly upon the extra-judicial opinion the Judges had given at Charles' request, on the King's right to Ship-Money. "No meal undigested," he said, "can lie heavier upon the stomach than that unsaid would have lain upon my conscience." He complained that the judges, " the persons who should have been as dogs to defend the flock, have become the wolves to devour it ; " that they had exceeded their functions, " bemg judges of law and not of necessity, that is, being judges and not philosophers or politicians ; " that to justify the plea of necessity, they ha-ve " supposed mighty and eminent dangers in the most quiet and halcyon days, but a few contemptible pirates being our most formidable enemies ; " they also, "supposing the supposed doings to be so sudden that it could not stay for a Parliament which required but a forty days' stay, allowed to the King the sole power in necessity, the sole judgment of necessity, and by that enabled him to take from us what he would, when he would, and howhe would." He especially declaimed against the Chief Justice (at this time Lord Keeper) Finch, who importuned the other judges, "as a most admirable solicitor, but a most abominable judge." * * • "He it was who gave away with his breath what our ancestors have purchased with so long expense of their time, their care, their treasures, and their bloods, and strove to make our grievances mortal and our slavery irreparable." * * • " He who hath already undone us by wholesale," [and now as Chancellor] "hath the power of undoing us by retail."— Corderoy and Phillpott's ' King and Commonwealth,' p. 83, and authorities there quoted. t Thomaa Bunbury, D.D., Vicar of St. Mary's, Eeadiug. 124 THE FIRST BATTLE OF NEWBURY. £ s. d. Avington Knt. 0572 00 00 Shalbourne Gent. 0145 10 00 Pangbourue Knt. 0382 10 00 Reading 0060 00 00 do 0002 13 04 Aldermaston Bart. 1000 00 00 Siiiming-hill Gent. 0112 15 00 Wliitewaltoii 0015 13 04 Kenniugton Esq. 0538 00 00 Kingston Lisle Esq. 0610 00 00 "Windsor Gent. 0020 00 00 Reading Gent. 0033 06 08 Bray Gent. 0166 13 06 Stanwick Esq. 0111 00 00 do Gent. 0008 06 08 Hurley 6057 07 05 Reading 0080 00 00 Hidden Esq. 0522 00 00 Billingbere Esq. 0877 00 00 Cmniior Gent. 0140 00 00 Gent. 0681 00 00 Reading Esq. 0160 00 00 Dndcot Gent. 0091 00 00 Radley Bart. 1460 00 00 Bradiield 0848 00 00 New Windsor 0022 13 04 Warfield Yeoman 0032 10 00 New Windsor Gent. 0160 00 00 Choke, Francis t Clifford, Richard Davis, John Dicus, Hugh Fartham, John Forster, Sir Humphrey Gwynn, William Gardiner, Roger Hide, Humphrey Hide, Humphrey Hall, Thomas Hamlyn, Henry Herbert, Edward Langton, William Langton, George Lovelace, Lord John Milton, Christopher * Mason, Robert Neville, Richd. Peacock, John Porter, William Reeves, Thomas Sawyer, Edward Stonehouse, Sir Geo. Stafford, Edward Thomas, John Tyle, Richd. Worktop, Thomas This list must not be supposed to specify the whole of the losses of the Berkshire Gentry on this occasion, as there is no doubt that those who were actively concerned forfeited their whole property, not being allowed to compound. Among the Recusants in the neighbourhood who suffered severely for their religious princij)les were the Eystons of Hendred (a family who have now held property in the Countj^ for over 500 years), the Perkinses of Ufton Court, Brownes of Gt. Shefford, and the Dancastles of Well- House and the Grange, in the parish of Shaw. The name of Gabriel Coxe who, while Mayor of Newbury, received the King at his house, occurs in the catalogue of persons reported to be Papists. t Sir Francis Choke, of Avington, was Lieut. -Colonel of Sir Faithful Fortescue's regiment raised for the King. * Christopher Milton. This was the brother of the great poet, John Milton, Cromwell's Latin Secretary. "He entered as a student of the Middle Temple, of which House he became an ancient Bencher, and kept close to that study and pro- fession all his lifo-time, except during the Civil Wars of England, when he adhered to the Royal cause, and became obnoxious to the Parliament by acting to the utmost of his power against them so lon2 V * 1 -I «> 3^ I ATTACK ON DONNINGTON CASTLE. 135 weekely payment for the building the workes, which cost about £1,000. Faire-Crosse Hundred paid about £60 per weeke." ^ The main element of defence of this little fortress was its massive gate-house, with barbican and portcullis, and the extensive series of earthworks constructed by Boys, and thickly planted with his heaviest guns. The remainder of the structure with its subordinate towers and curtain walls had, as Camden says, " windows on all sides, very lightsome," and was incapable of withstanding an artillery attack at a short range. It was more especially owing to the brilliant heroism, skill and dash displayed by Sir John Boys and his small garrison, whose daring deeds and chivalrous adventures appear almost incredible, that the old Castle became a post of such strategic value, and was so long and obstinately main- tained against the almost overwhelming numbers and organ- ised efforts of their powerful but unsuccessful antagonists. The operations of Middleton before Donnington Castle are mentioned in the following terms in * The True Informer ' from Saturday, August 10th, to Saturday, August 17th, 1644. *'0n Monday, July 29th, Lt.-Grenl. Middleton came before Donnington Castle with between 3,000 and 4,000 horse and foot. At their entrance into Newbury they took divers of the stragglers of Donnington Castle, and on AVednesday morning drew up both horse and foot against the Castle, and without summons fell on a barn,f wherein the Governor of the Castle had placed some musquetiers, which our guards gained, beat the enemy, and took divers of them prisoners, after which the General sent a summons to the Governor, in these words : — * Sir, I demand you to render me Donnington Castle for the use of the King and Parliament. If you please to entertain a present treaty you shall have honourable terms. My desire to spare blood makes me propose this. I desire your answer. John Middletox.' ' Sir,' answered Boys, ' I am instructed by His Majesty's express commands, and have not yet learned to obey any other than my Sovereign. To spare blood, do as you please, but myself and those who are with me are fully resolved to venture ours in maintaining what we are entrusted * Symoiid's 'Diary,' p. 144. Sir John Boys appears to have been well off for supplies, as in the month of July, 1644, we find he was able to spare "four score and seven oxen," for the garrison at Oxford, which were sent from Donnington Castle Park and put into Christchurch meadows. — MS. Accounts of Cajitain Henry Stevens, Commissary- General in His Majesty's army, in the possession of his descendant the Rev. Thomas Stevens, late Warden of Bradfield College. t A portion of the walls of this barn is still standing on the south- west side of the Castle farm-yard ; and formed part of the original out-buildings of the Castle. 136 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. with, wliicli is tlie answer of John Boys. Donnington Castle, July 31, 1644,' After this answer received, the said Lieiitenant-Greneral drew up his foot with scaling ladders and other provisions, dividing themselves into three several places, at last the enemy fired the barne, whereupon our soldiers who were in it came forth, and the rest, in regard that they had not great pieces to batter the Castle, retreated with the loss of 6 common soldiers and a Lieutenant, concerning whom the Governor of the Castle (considering he had gott a great prize, though he lost three persons) sent a Drum to the Lt.-Genl, with this message. ' For Lt.-Generall Middleton. Sir, Christian charity requires me to give you notice that I have many bodies of yours, which I cannot accommodate with Christian burial, as likewise many of your wounded men which I know not how to dispose of. This I thought good to give you notice of, that you might take some course for them accordingly. Your Servant, JoHisr Boys. Donnington Castle, July 31, 1644.' To which message the Lt.-Generall sent this answer — ' I conceive no inherient holinesse to be in any place or buriall, for all earth is fit for that use. In that you say you have no accommodation for our wounded men, who are your prisoners, if you please to exchange them, quality for quality, I shall take it a curtesie done to. Sir, Your Servant, Jno. Middleton.' " On the following Monday morning, the Castle being ''recommended" by the Parliament to Major- General Brown, Governor of Abingdon and Commander of the Forces of the Associated Counties of Oxon, Berks, and Bucks, Middleton proceeded to join Essex in the west. On his way he was met and routed by Sir Francis Doddington and Sir William Courtenay, and compelled to retreat to Sherborne in Dorsetshire, where he fell upon a party of the King's horse, and, putting them to flight, repaired his credit by this unexpected and opportune success. CHAPTER III. THE AEMIES OF THE KING AND PAELIAMENT. Manchester with his army arrived at Huntingdon on the 8th of September. By that time, however, the fate of Essex in Cornwall had been decided. Before relief could reach him he had been obliged to make his own escape by sea to Plymouth, on his way to London, leaving the mounted troops, under Sir William Balfour, to cut their way eastward as they THE AEMIES OF THE KING AND PARLIAMENT. 137 could, and his foot, under Major-General Skippon, to negotiate terms of surrender, which were agreed to on September 1st. The news of Essex's defeat reached Manchester at Hunting- don, whence on the 8th of September, he wrote to the Derby- House Committee,* expressing his condolence over the sad event, — '' The Lord's arm," he adds, ''is not shortened, though we be much weakened. I trust he will give us a happy recovery. I shaU with all speed I can, march in obser- vance of your former orders." He was now instructed to march westward for Abingdon with all possible expedition, and to send advertisement of his progress as he advanced. The activity and firmness of the Parliament at first caused the King to slacken his movements. He addressed a pacific message to the Houses ; and, for three weeks, contented him- self with appearing before Plymouth and Lyme, which did not surrender. Towards the end of September, however, he learnt that Montrose, who had long since promised him civil war in Scotland, had at last succeeded, and was already obtaining one triumph after another. In a fortnight he had gained two battles (at Tippermuir, September 1st, and at Dee Bridge, September 12th), occupied Perth, taken Aberdeen by storm, raised most of the northern clans, and spread fear to the very gates of Edinburgh. On hearing this news, Charles flattered himself that the disaster of Marston Moor was repaired, that Parliament would soon find in the north a powerful adversary, and that he himself might without fear proceed to follow up his successes in the south. He resolved to march upon London ; and, to give his expedition a popular and decisive appearance, a proclamation, sent forth in every direction at the moment of his departure, invited all his sub- jects of the south and east to rise in arms, choose officers for themselves, and joining him on his way, march with him to summon the Parliament at length to accept peace. f Prince Eupert on the 3rd of October had left the King for Bristol; and the latter promised not to engage until the Prince returned to him with reinforcements of Langdale's and Gerrard's troops. On the 11th, however, the pressing necessities of his four gallant garrisons at Basing, Donning- * The Derby-House Committee consisted, for the English Parliament, of seven selected Peers and fourteen selected Commoners. Essex, Manchester, Waller, and Cromwell were of the English part of this Committee. Derby House, Cannon Eow, Westminster, being the meeting-place of the Committee, it received the name of the "Derby- House Committee." tThe proclamation is dated from Chard, September 30th, 1644. ' Rushworth,' vol. ii. 3, 715. Guizot's ' Hist. Eng. Reform.,' p. 244. 138 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. ton, Portland, and Banbury, induced liim to put his army in motion ; and on that day he thus writes to his nephew from Blandford: — The King to PuiisrcE Rupert. ''Nephew, [In cipher.] I am advertised by a dispatch from Secretary Nicholas that the Grovernours of Basing, Banbury and Don- nington Castle, must accommodate in case they be not relieved within a few days. The importance of which place and con- sequently [illegible] hath made me resolve to begin my march on Tuesday towards Salisbury, where, Prince Rupert may rely upon it, the King of England shall be, Grod willing, on Wednesday next, where I will desire Prince Rupert to come with what strength of horse and foot you can, and the two demi-cannons, many of my men being unarmed. I have sent to Bristol for musquets which I desire Rupert to speed to me. I desire to hear daily from you, and particularly when you will be with me, and which way you will march, and how strong you can come to Your loving Uncle and most faithful friend, Blandford, 11th Oct. 1644. Charles R."* If everything had happened as the King anticipated, he might have arrived in London before the Parliament's forces could have joined to form a new army ; but his troops, instead of increasing on their march, as Charles had supposed, daily diminished : their pay was long in arrear ; the men were half-starved, and in want of shoes and stockings ; sickness had disabled many ; desertions were numerous ; and he was obliged to make frequent halts in towns, to wait for money and other necessaries, which he found would not be supplied when he had gone.f Owing to these delays, the Eang did not reach Salisbury till the 15th of October, six weeks after the surrender of the Parliamentarians at Lostwithiel ; and, instead of proceeding toward London, as was at first intended, * Warburton's 'Prince Eupert,' vol. iii. pp. 26-27. t The King's army about this time consisted of 5,500 foot and 4,000 horse. (Clarendon, vol. ii. p. 541.) The Eoyalist forces, being sup- ported by voluntary contributions, were poorly paid , whereas the pay of the Parliament was very good, especially that for the officers ; but soon after the breaking out of the War an ordinance was passed, wherein it was enacted that all officers of the Earl of Essex's army, whose pay amounted to 10s. a day and upwards, should only receive half their pay, the other half being postponed until the troubles should be over. Horses at this time were valued at about £4 ; they had been as cheap as 30s. and 50s. Oats were Is. 6d. a bushel, and 12s. a quar- ter; peas and beans 2s. a bushel. Hay 5d. the tod; and grass-feed 2s. 6d. a week. In 1655 wheat was 33s. and malt 20s. a quarter. THE ABMIES OF THE KING AND PARLIAMENT. 139 he decided to direct his march to Oxford, relieving his dis- tressed garrisons on the way. Before this could be accom- plished, however, he had to meet the combined army of the Parliament at Newbury. While Charles was advancing from Cornwall, news had come to Oxford that the gallant old Marquis of Winchester — " He who in impious times untainted stood, And midst rebellion durst be just and good,'* was so hard pressed at Basing that he must surrender in ten days if no relief came. Sir Arthur Aston, the governor at Oxford, declared that the dangers of the relief were more than any soldier who understood command would expose himself to, and that he could not suffer any of the small garrison under his charge to be hazarded in the attempt ; but Colonel Gage, who had lately come from the English regiment in Flanders, a worthier servant than whom the King did not possess, offered to take the command, and hoped to give a good account of it, if the Lords then at Oxford would enlist their servants, and raise a good troop or two of horse. Colonel Hawkins' regiment, having opportunely come into Oxford, was raised to 400 by volunteers, and, with 250 horse, was placed under Gage's command. With this small force he threaded his way through bye roads to Wallingford and Aldermaston, and thence to Basing, where, on the 14th of September, he attacked and beat off the besiegers, levied arms and provisions in Basingstoke and the neighbouring villages, relieved the garrison, and then, though the whole country was up, came back to Oxford on the sixth day with 100 prisoners; having lost in the expedition only two officers, Captain Sturges, of the Queen's Lifeguard, and Cornet Stonor, of the Wallingford troop, with nine others, and about forty or fifty slightly wounded.^' It was agreed on all sides that a more soldierly action had not been performed during the war. Colonel Gage was knighted for this and other gallant services, in the Presence Chamber at Christ Church, Oxford, Novem- ber 2nd, 1644 ; but the brave Colonel did not long enjoy his * Walker's 'Hist. Discourses,' p. 95. Gage's force crossed the Kennet by a ford near Burghfield Bridge (the Bridge itself having been previously broken down), and forded the Thames near Pangbourne. In the year 1839, in digging a grave in the nave of Ewhurst Church, on the Basingstoke road, near Kingsclere, the remains of two soldiers, with portions of military ornaments, were found at a shallow depth. These interments had the appearance of having been hastily con- ducted, and were supposed to have been the bodies of officers slain in a skirmish in the neighbourhood during the operations before Basing. 140 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBUEY. distinction, being slain at Culham Bridge, near Abingdon, the following January. When the King arrived at Salisbury (15th October) he was informed that the Parliament had made preparations to inter- cept his march ; that AValler with his troops lay at Andover ; that Manchester had advanced as far as Reading with 5,000 horse and foot, and 24 pieces of ordnance ; and that the London Trained-bands, consisting of the Eed and Blue regi- ments of the City of London, the Bed regiment of West- minster, the Yellow regiments of Southwark and the Tower Hamlets, making in all about 5,000 men, commanded by Sir James Harrington, were beginning their march to join him. The Earl of Essex's army, newly organized and equipped, was near Portsmouth, as well as those troops returning from the west under Colonel Middleton ; and these were expecting orders to join the other forces. Had Charles used this information, and hastened his march to Oxford, he might have brought this year's campaign to a conclusion, which would have been the most reasonable thing for him to have done, because he had received letters from Prince Bupert, in which he stated that it was impossible for him to bring up his troops so soon as the King expected. If such a determination had been formed, Donnington Castle and Banbury might both at a seasonable time have been relieved. But misfortune always attended the movements of the unhappy monarch. He was too easily led, John Milton thus describes the King's fatal peculiarity : — " Whether with his enemies or friends, in the Court or Camp, he was always in the hands of another ; now of his Wife, then of the Bishops ; now of the Peers, then of the Soldiery ; and lastly of his enemies : for the most part, too, he followed the worse counsel, and most always of the worsermen." In this instance Lord Goring who did not wish Prince Pupert to join in these operations, urgently advised the King to march against Waller, who was at that time with about 3,000 horse and foot at Andover, and at some little distance from the bulk of the Parliament's forces. A Council of War was held, and the King at last yielded ; the ostensible object being to cut off Waller before he could effect a junction with Essex and Manchester, and thus the more readily to advance the relief of Basing and Donnington Castle. The cannon which the Poyalists had taken from Essex in Cornwall had been left at Exeter. The larger guns then with the forces were ordered to be sent to the garrison at Langford House, near Salisbury ; the remainder of the artillery and baggage-waggons were placed at Wilton House. The Royal THE ARMIES OF THE KING AND PARLIAMENT. 141 army was drawn up in Clarendon Park, and guards were posted at all the entrances to the City of Salisbury, to prevent information of the King's purpose being spread about. This succeeded so well that the Royalists reached within four miles of Andover before Waller had any notion of their movements. On the enemy's approach he drew out his whole force, as though disposed to fight ; on perceiving the King's strength, however, he drew back into the town, leaving a body of cavalry to make good his retreat ; but the King's iroops charged furiously, and effected a complete rout, pursuing the Parliamentarians through the town of Andover, giving no quarter. Waller, nevertheless, made good his retreat to Basingstoke. ''It was a greate mercy of Cod," he says in his 'Pecollections,' ''when the King came upon me with his whole army at Andover, and I had nothing but a mere body of horse and dragooners with me, I made a faire retreate to Basingstoke." This affair is thus recorded by Captain Symonds, who was then with the King's army. " Priday, 18 Oct., 1644. His Majestie, &c., left Sarum and marched towards Andevor, Waller's forces being then in Andevor, Cenerall Coring raysed a forlorne of horse, consisting of about 200 gen- tlemen, who were spare commanders of horse, beate them out of Andevor, took Carr, a Scot colonel, and another captain, a Scott, that died, who a little before his death rose from under the table, saying he would not dye like a dog under a table, but sate downe upon a chayre, and ymediatly dyed of his wounds. Tooke about 80 prisoners, followed the chase of them two miles, who all ran in great confusion. Had not night come so soone, it might have made an end of Waller's army for our intention was to engage them, but they disappointed our hopes by their heeles."^ The condition of Waller's force at this time appears to have been quite as deplorable as that of the King's army. Writing from Shaftesbury to the Derby-House Committee, on the 27th September, he sajs: — "Our wants are so extreme, that a major of horse hath been forced to borrow six pound to pay for the shoeing of his Horse. I am sorry we are so inconsider- able to the House. This last night and this morning it was in discourse that the officers should send in a petition to the Parliament for the supply of their wants." Referring to the question as to which of the Cenerals should take the command after the three armies were united, he adds : — " I doubt not but that the Earl of Manchester and myself will agree well * Symonds's 'Diary,' p. 141. 142 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. enough about that, but I am so heartily weary of this war that I shall submit to anything that may induce to the dis- sipating of it." Addressing the Committee on the 20th of October from Basingstoke, he has even worse tidings to com- municate as to his diflB.culties in obtaining supplies and cloth- ing for his men. '^ Your poore creatures," he writes, " are so pittifull an object that the like is not to be seene in England. . It is no little grief e to us that our poore dragoones goe naked this weather. that they might be thought upon for clothes. We can but enforme them it is not in our power to help them." Worse still, his men were daily deserting, and in the absence of regular supplies, the discipline of the troops was considerably shaken. No time was lost by the Parliament in attending to Waller's requirements, and the next day eight hundred suits of clothes were ordered to be sent to clothe Sir William's " naked " dragoons, together with forty loads of cheese and biscuit dispatched to Farnham Castle to be apportioned between the armies. Cromwell, who had been in the neighbourhood of Banbury, and present at the latter part of the siege with a detachment of horse, joined at Eeading the army of the Earl of Manchester, who for more than a fortnight had been lying idle there, finding excuse after excuse for not marching fur- ther west. On the 16th October, the Earl, after a consultation with Waller, marched from Reading to Basingstoke, and on the 21st his forces, united with those of Essex and Waller, near Basing, consisted of about 11,000 foot and 8,000 horse and dragoons.^ Such a force, both in respect of numbers and composition, had not as yet been formed under one leader since the commencement of the war. To the chief command of this army, magnificent for the period, the Earl of Manchester, in the absence of the Earl of Essex, was nomin- ated. CroniweU retained as before the rank of Greneral of Horse. The whole, wound up to the highest pitch of enthusiasm, prepared to advance against the King. The Derby-House Committee had by this time sent two of their number, namely the Scottish representative, Sir Archibald Johnston, of Warriston,f and the English, Mr. John Crewe, * " That after this conjunction, wee being at Basing, neare 11,000 foote and about 8,000 horse and dragoones, and the King with not above 10,000 horse and foote." Cromwell's evidence from the * Information against the Earl of Manchester ' ; Public Record Office. t Afterwards Lord Registrar of Scotland, and " one of Cromwell's Lords." He was one of the most unrelenting of the enemies of Mon- trose, who, when some others proposed more merciful measures, insisted upon his suffering the whole punishment described by the sentence, and even jeered him as he was preparing for executiont THE ARMIES OF THE KING AND PARLIAMENT. 143 to see that all possible advantages should be taken against the enemy, and to prevent any contention between the chief officers as to the command, and other matters. These two civilians met Manchester at Basingstoke, and that their pre- sence tended to allay the ill-humour and murmurings among the Parliamentary leaders, we may gather from the words of Baillie, who was then in London as a Scotch Commissioner to the Westminster Assembly of Divines. In a letter to his cousin, he says : — " The emulations and quarrells among all these three armies, both Generalls and inf eriour officers, were formidable ; yet such was the diligence and wisdom of the Chancellor and others that Warriston and Mr. Crew going down from the Committee of both kingdom's did move all the three Generalls and their armies, to joyn cordialie against the enemie.""^* At this time a difference of opinion existed in the Parlia- mentary camp as to the best course of action. Cromwell and some of the other generals urged a direct interception of the royal army ; but Manchester, who seemed disposed to give the King every chance, resolved to march back to Peading, with the object (as he states in his defence) of making the attack from the north, or left bank of the Kennet. Cromwell's evidence partly bears out this view. ''On Tuesday, 22nd Oct., it being agreed (as we thought) to march towards him [the King] or to interpose betwixt him and Pedding, about Aldermaston Heath, and our horse marching before to the heath, our foot struck down to Swallowfield, and thence next day to Pedding, as if we had declined to fight, and thus mak- ing fower days march from Basingstoke to Newbery (which might have been little more than one t'other way), wee gave the King opportunity to have got cleare to Oxford (if hee would) without fighting ; and, staying there, he had thereby time to fortify himseK against our approaches to Newberry. f Manchester further states in his ' Narrative of the Cam- paign ' : " For the subsistence of the armies at Basingstoke it was concluded to march to Pedding, and so come uppon the Retributive justice, however, willed that he himself should suffer an ignominious death thirteen years after, on the very spot where Montrose was executed. He had been attainted at the Restoration, aud fled, but was seized in France about two years after, brought over and executed at Edinburgh. This "stern and sullen Puritan " was a very active opponent of the King's interests, and was suspected of a secret correspondence with the English regicides. * Baillie (Robert), the ' Letters and Journals of ' Bannatyne Club, vol. ii. p. 237. t Cromwell's evidence, from the 'Information against the Earl of Manchester.' State Papers, Public Record OflSce. 144 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. other side of the Kennett uppon the enemy, and to forse the Ej.ng to fight, notwithstanding the enemy being in their strengthe. My Lord of Essex beeing in Bedding leaft sicke." Nor were the Royalists at all clear as to the strength and intentions of the Parliamentarians, as the following extract from a letter to Prince Rupert from Lord Digby shews : — ''Wee may promise ourselves a very happy conclusion of this summer's warre, for now we know the worst of the Pebells forces. Essex, Manchester, and Waller, and the Trained Bands newly come out of London, were all joyned yesterday, and by all intelligence of those who hath seen them at their rendezvous do not muster in all [cypher] foot and [....] horse, of which the only considerable ones are Cromwell's. His Majesty, over and above what your High- ness knows of, hath [here the forces are enumerated in cypher]. It seems the Pebells begin to apprehend themselves too weake to encounter us, for our intelligence this morning is that they have retreated to Reading. Believe it is for their f eares, and the distractions in London are soe great, in all probabilitie it will be fatall to them. Yours, &c., Gteo. Digbye. Newbery, 23 Oct., 1644."^* The easy success of the King's army in the affair with Waller at Andover so raised the spirits of his troops that they were eager to engage the combined forces of the Parliament ; but, as Clarendon remarks, the King wisely did not seek the opportunity. It was, however, resolved to attempt the relief of the closely besieged garrisons of Donnington Castle, Basing, and Banbury before going into quarters at Oxford for the winter ; and, for this purpose, orders were dispatched for the guns and baggage, which had been left at Langford and Wilton, to be at once sent forward. On Saturday, the 1 9th of October, the King marched from Andover to Whitchurch, where he was to remain until Lord Brentford, who was behind, and the Earl of Cleveland, who had been detained with the siege of Portland, should come up with the remainder of his force. The following day (Sunday) a party of horse was dispatched to reheve Donning- ton Castle ; and the next night a spy in the service of the Parliament returned to the camp with the following intelli- gence : — " His Majesty's army was in AVhitchurch all Sunday night ; and that town was full of soldiers, both horse and foot, but their train of artillery was not there, only some few wagons belonging to Officers. That their train stood on Andover downes, within two miles of Whitchurch or there- * Addl. MSS. Brit. Mus., No. 18980. THE AEMIES OF THE KING AND PAELIAMENT. 145 abouts. The King was last niglit at Wliitcliurcli, but by some reported to be at Winchester, and by others at Andover. The last night, about 8 of the clock, went out about 4,000 horse out of Whitchurch to give an alarm, and returned this morning about break of day. [This was the party which was sent to relieve Donnington Castle.] Yesterday it was ordered that the train should be drawn up to Whitchurch Downes, but was hindered by the wet weather, and so staid two miles short. And that this day [Monday] the rendezvous was to be kept upon Sevenborough [Seven Barrows] *' : the drums beat up at Whitchurch at break of day. This day about 8 o'clock there stood at Whitclear [? Whitway or High- clere] a great body of horse, as he conceiveth to be 2,000, on this side Sevenborough. That about 12 o'clock there were going to Kingsclere some empty carts, accompanied with some troops of horse, which carts he supposed were to carry provisions that were summoned to be brought to Donnington Castle. [These apparently were the empty carts returning from the Castle.] That it is generally reported the King quarters at Donnington the next night. Carriages were warned at Bawgus [Baughurst] and the parishes adjacent, to appear this morning at Whitchurch. From Newbury, that great provisions of victuals are made, and all towns adjoining, for the army, which is expected there this night. That a great party from Oxford and Wallingford is to be there to meet the King's forces this night." f By Monday, the 21st October, the whole army had advanced as far as Kingsclere, which, being mid- way between Basing and Newbury, was considered a suitable place from which to attempt the relief of the former garrison. This position, however, having been found too much exposed for an army threatened by an enemy so much superior in cavalry, the em- barrassed loyalists, after a night's halt, proceeded on their march to Newbury ; a general rendezvous being appointed on Red Heath, on the south side of the town, the head-quarters of the horse being in the town of Newbury, with an advanced post on the Lambourn at WeKord.J On the King's arrival at the camp on Red Heath, he was welcomed by Colonel Boys, who received the honour of knighthood from his Majesty * Part of a Cuirassier's breastplate of the Caroline period was turned up by the plough near the Seven Barrows, a group of ancient British tumuli, in the year 1881. t ' The Parliamentary Scout,' 24 to 31 Oct., 1644. X * ' The manor belonging to Mr. Hinton Jure uxoris ; a f aire habitacion, com. Berks." Symonds's 'Diary,' p. 143. 146 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. for liis valiant defence of Donnington, and was made Colonel of the regiment which, he had before commanded as Lieut. - Colonel to Earl Eivers, who was nominally the chief governor of the Castle. A messenger having brouglit to the King at Newbury intelligence of the exhausted condition of the garrison at Banbury, Lord Northampton was dispatched on Thursday, 24th October, from the camp with 1,500 horse for the relief of the Castle, which for thirteen weeks had been gallantly defended by the EarFs brother. Sir William Compton. That night he quartered at Farnborough, and the next day near Woodstock, where the Earl was joined by Colonel Gage with a regiment of foot and some horse from Oxford. Thence the united force advanced to Banbury, routed Col. Eiennes, and raised the siege. The very day after this service had been so well performed. Colonel Sir John Hurry, who has been mentioned as a renegade, seized the op]3ortunity to consummate a second act of treachery. Under pretence of retiring to the continent, he obtained leave to withdraw from the Eoyal army (in which, it is probable, he considered his services not sufficiently valued) ; and, availing himself of his pass, hastened to the Earl of Manchester's camp and betrayed the unprovided condition and diminished num- bers of the King. The immediate consequence of this intelli- gence was the Second Battle of Newbuiy. CHAPTEE IV. SIEGE OF DONNINGTON CASTLE. Meanwhile, after the departure of Middleton, Colonel Horton (Lieut. -Colonel of Lord Wharton's regiment), who is described as Adjutant-General to Major-General Brown, was left to blockade Donnington Castle. Having effectually guarded all the avenues leading to the stout little stronghold so that no succour could get to its relief, he summoned Boys to surrender, but met with defiance. Accordingly, having received reinforcements from Abingdon, Windsor, and Reading, he commenced to lay close siege to the Castle, and raised a battery " at the foot of the hill towards Newbury." * In a twelve daj^s' cannonade he beat down three of the south towers and part of the curtain-wall. Having received another * Traces of this battery can still be discerned in the meadows on the south side of the road leading from Donnington to Speen. It is shown on the Plan. THE SIEGE OF DONNINGTON CASTLE. 147 contingent, Horton then summoned tTie Governor a second time, in the following terms : — '* Sir, We liave formerly testified our clemency in tendring you quarter upon your surrender of the Castle for the use of the King and Parliament, and now again we, being desirous (notwithstanding our increase of powers) to manifest our mercy, do hereby once for all freely offer yoiu'self and men free quarter in case you yield the Castle, for the use aforesaid, before Wednesday next at 10 of the clock in the forenoon, and further we here testifie (in the presence of God) that if this our favour be not accepted and the Castle surrendered, there shall be no active man amongst you have his life, if God shall ever please to yield them to our mercy. Yours, Jeremy Horto]^." To which Colonel Boys replied: — ''Sir, Neither your new addition of forces, nor your high threatning language, shall deter me, or the rest of these honest men with me, from our loyalty to our sovereign, but we do resolve to maintain this place the utter- most of our powers, and for the matter of quarter, yours may expect the like on Wednesday or sooner if you please. This is the answer of. Sir, Your servant, Jno. Boys." Upon this second denial, Manchester himself came to Newbury on Friday, October 4th, and, getting another refusal, resolved to storm the Castle on Wednesday, October 9th ; but his men not being willing for the work, the proposed assault was abandoned, and Manchester returned to Beading, giving orders, however, for the siege to be continued. This was conducted with ordnance of a fairly heavy calibre. SyxQonds, in his ' Diary,' thus refers to the garrison at this time : — " The men within the Castle were the Earl of Bivers' regiment, about 200, and 25 horse, 4 peice of cannon. The enemy made a great open battery, with their hundreds of 36lb bullets, toto sl 500 and odd bullets, most of them 36lb., some 61b, some 121b." Doubtless there were other guns used by besiegers and the besieged ; and it may be interesting here to give some particulars as to the capacity of the artillery at this period,^' thus — Cannon Eoyal Culverin . . Denii-culverin Saker Minion . . Drakes . . Bore. In. ^ 4 4 ^ Carried Weight. Lbs. 8000 4500 3400 1000 Weight of Shot. Lbs. 66 7 4 Point Blank Eange. Paces. 800 200 200 170 150 Extreme range. Paces. 1930 2500 2500 1700 1500 a ball from 4 to 6 lb., and were used as light field-artillery. *See Monson's 'Tracts,' p. 342. 148 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. There were also guns termed '^ Basilisks " after that mythic creature; they were 48-pounders. Such a one is called "a warning piece " in Vicars' account of the siege of Bristol. ''Falcons" with 6lb. shots, and ''Falconets" with 3, 2, and lib.; " Peteraroes " for throwing stones, &c. We incidentally obtain some information as to the size of the projectiles of this period from an order for stores entered in the Commons' Journals 9th October, 1645, shortly before the taking of Basing House. The following items are speci- fied : — Whole-Cannon English shot of 63lbs. weight. Demi- Cannon shot 32lbs. weight. Granado shells 13in. and lOin. diameter, and " One Grreat Mortar Piece." The latter was a ponderous piece of ordnance of terrible destructive power and exceptional calibre, its use being almost exclusively restricted to siege operations. One of these monster mortars is men- tioned as having been brought into requisition at the siege of Donnington Castle, when seventeen shells were fired from it by the besiegers under Colonel Dalbier. Some further refer- ence to this "Mortar-Piece" is made in the account of the last days of the siege of the Castle. At the siege of Grlouces- ter the besiegers shot, besides granadoes, great stones from their mortar-pieces, and red-hot iron balls of 18lbs. and22lbs. weight. A granado of 80lbs. weight is mentioned as having been shot from a mortar-piece at the siege of Basing. Also logs bound with iron hoops. Cross-bar shot was also used, i.e., shot with iron bars crossing through them, sometimes standing six or eight inches out at both sides, very useful in demoHshing the enemy's palisading, &c. The day after Manchester's departure the besiegers removed their guns "to the other side of the Castle," that is, to Snelsmore Heath. Here the trenches constructed by the Parliamentarians are still very distinctly traceable, as shown on the Plan. The line of fire from this position was some- what oblique ; which to some extent accounts for the pre- servation of the towers of the Gate-house. An attempt was made to approach the walls by saps, '^' but, this being per- ceived by Boys, the garrison made a sortie, and beat the enemy out of their trenches, killing the chief in command of the party and many soldiers : and they brought away the " cannon-baskets,"! with a large quantity of arms and ammunition. Though much disheartened, the Parliament- * "Saps," that is trenches made under cover from the fire of the enemy's place, behind a mantelet or stuffed gabion. Mantelets on wheels were used during the Civil War, t Gabions. THE SIEGE OF DONNINGTON CASTLE. 149 men went on their approaches, and continued bombarding the Castle until Friday, 18th October; and then, hearing of the advance of the King's army, they drew off their ordnance and retired. In nineteen days (twelve at Speen and seven at Snelsmore) they had spent over 1000 rounds on the im- pregnable little castle with very little hurt to its defenders. Horton and his men retired towards Abingdon, and the "Windsor force to Newbury; while Manchester's detachment fell back on Reading. The ' Mercurius Aulicus ' of October 15th, 1644, contains some curious information as to the siege and defence of the Castle. The following is an extract : — '' Such was Col. Horton' s great mercy that the day before the Governor and his men were to dye (in case they did not sur- render) they sent Master Fogge, Horton' s Chaplain, with a letter which Fogge had procured from Mistris Fleetwood, in Newbury, to her husband, Dr. Fleetwood,^' Chaplain to Earl Eivers' regiment (to whom Col. Boys is Lt.-CoL), and this letter Fogge brought to Dr. Fleetwood in the Castle, wherein Mistris Fleetwood wrote — 'that if the Castle did refuse Col. Horton's mercy, they were all lost men,' and therefore desired her husband and the rest to prepare themselves (and indeed so they did) to shew themselves gallant men. This letter, you must know, the poor gentlewoman was forced to write to her husband, tho' Fogge had the wording of it, and to make the pageantry more complete. Col. Horton pretends a great unwillingness to let any such letter j)asse into the Castle, and therefore sends this note to Fogge, on purpose also to be communicated ; — ' Mr. Fogge, At the earnest sute of Mrs. Fleetwood I am instructed to permit the passage of this letter into the Castle by your hands, hereby requiring you to testifie to all therein (if the Governor will peimit it) that if they please to come forth before tomorrow at 9 o'clock in the fore- noon they may have faire quarter, otherwise according to my solemn vow they may expect no favour. Jeremy Hoeton.' This poor preaching was easily discerned by Col. Boys, who read it and scorned it." The 'Mercurius Aulicus' adds that * Dr. James Fleetwood, son of Sir George Fleetwood, was made D.D., in 1642, at Oxford by the King's special command for the good services he had done him at the battle of Edgehill. Upon the Restora- tion he was the first person that was sworn Chaplain-in-Ordinary to Charles II.; when he was also made Provost of King's College, Rector of Anstey in Hertfordshire, and of Denham in Bucks. In 1675 he was consecrated Bishop of Worcester. He died in 1683, in the eighty-first year of his age There was also a James Fleetwood, S.T.P., Rector of Shaw, near Newbury, shortly after the Restoration, which living he resigned in March 1660-61. 150 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. " Mancliester also gave orders to an unfortunate brother to Col. Boys (who was a Captain in Manchester's army) to write to the Grovernor, to assure him that, if he would surrender the Castle, he should not only have all honourable conditions, but freely be admitten to his house, and possess his estate quietly in Kent ; ^* and, if he would come forth and capitulate, he should do it safely ; if not, [to demand] that his brother might be permitted to come to him into the castle, to inform him further of his Lordship's intention. To whom the Governor made answer : — That neither the Earl of Manchester and all his forces should deter him from his fidelity and loyalty to his Sovereign, neither woidd he entertain any manner of parley concerning the delivery up of the place, which he was resolved to maintain to his last drop of blood." A letter, written by Chaplain Fogge,f respecting the siege, is given in the 'London Post' of October 23rd, 1644. It is to this effect : — " Sir, These are to certifie to you that Sir Miles Hobart's regiment is here at Newbery, where we had almost brought Donnington Castle down to the ground by the active endeavours of General- Adjutant Colonell Horton. But Lieut. -Gen. Brown called him and his force away, and the gunnes are taken off and carried to Reading, and here is only one regiment and some of Col. Montague's, and 2 or 3 troops of horse ; yet we keep them in the Castle, and if we might have gunnes and furniture, I would undertake we could have the Castle in a week. * ^'' -'' The town of Newbery and the county adjacent cry out they must fall if we go and let * Sir John Boys' estate was at Bomiington in Kent : it was seized and sequestrated by the Parliament. t Wlien Prince Rupert took Bolton, and put so many to the sword, the Rev. Robert Fogge had a narrow escape. Having set his man to wait with two horses at a certain place, he determined, if the town was taken, to ride for his life ; but when he came thither, the man and his horse were gone. He happened, however, to meet with another horse, or else he would have been killed, for the Prince had a particular aim at him. In the war-time he married his second wife, who proved to be a papist. Her sons were in the King's service, and much enraged against their father-in-law. One of them sent him a challenge. He took his sword under his coat and met him, and so humbled the young man that he was glad to be reconciled. Fogge died at Nantwich in April, 1676, aged 80. (Palmer's ' Nonconformists' Memorial,' vol. ii, p. 604.) Fogge' s son Rowland subscribed to the Declaration in 1665, and ultimately became Dean of Chester. One of the Rev. Mr. Fogge's family, a certain Captain Fogge, directed the plundering of St. George's Chapel, Windsor. The numerous gold vessels, which the munificence and piety of successive Sovereigns and Knights -of -the -Garter had here consecrated to religious uses, were said to have been exquisitely wrought and to have weighed 3580 ounces. POSITION OF THE KOYALISTS. 151 the Castle stand. I wist, the Committee were weU informed concerning it. I dare say it is a place of such consequence as they would not lose the opportunity to gayne it, considering it is sore battered, and one breach in it that many may enter abreast. Truely two or three fire-balls or granadoes shot into it would make it ours. The Lord guide the state and be with you and us all.* Yr humble servt., E. F." [Eobert Fogge] CHAPTER V. POSITION OF THE EOYALISTS. Before proceeding further, it will be necessary to give an outline of the position of the Eoyal army on the morning of Saturday, the 26th of October. The Eoyalist strength is said by the ' True Informer ' of October 26th, to have been about 13,000, '' whereof 7,000 foot are most of them very.poore for want of cloaths, which is provided for them, but are not used for fear they should run away, or should be lost in battle." Charles despised his late antagonist, Waller ; and, having little a23prehension of an attack, was ignorant of the strength of the enemy gathering around him. He remained quietly at Newbury, resolving to await the Earl of Northampton's return from Banbury, in order to relieve Basing. But the Earl's absence together with that of the troops under Prince Eupert, who was detained at Bristol endeavouring to raise a sufficient force to come to the King's assistance, frustrated this plan. Upon the near approach of the Parliamentary army, Charles, finding it too late to attempt a retreat to Oxford, was compelled to fight, contrary to his promise and inclination. He determined, however, as in the former action, to act only on the defensive. On Friday, 25th October, he therefore drew his army into " the fields between Donnington Castle and Newbury," thinking it wisest to await an attack, and to try the issue of a general action, on ground of his own selection ; his judgment in this instance being seconded by an intimate knowledge of a locality where the year before he had met the same enemy. It is not difficult to fix the position occupied by the Eoyal army at this time. (See Plan.) The fields above-mentioned were the scene of the principal part of the fighting after the Eoyalists were subsequently driven from Speen Hill. They extend on the west to the old high- * This letter is given in Colonel Columb's admirable little book, * Donnington Castle : a Royahst Story,' p. 141. 152 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. way from Hungerford, now called 'Hhe Backway," on the north to the Eiver Lamborne, and on the south to the hamlet of Speenhamland. The general appearance of the neighbour- hood has been much changed since the period of the Baitle. In maps of the seventeenth century the old gabled houses in the Broadway appear quite in the fields. A house still stand- ing in the London Koad is said to have been the Manor-house ; and in the old maps an avenue of trees is shown leading up to it from the direction of the Marsh. A range of buildings near, erected on the site of the Lamb-and- Castle Yard, marks the traditional birth-place of the famous Dr. Twisse. Newbury Marsh, opposite, was formerly quite open to the old highway to London, which, going somewhat northward, passed Shaw brick-kiln, and joined the line of the existing road to Thatcham near the Turnpike Gate, which was removed a few jeavs since. The original road from Shaw House to Newbury is said to have crossed the river Lamborne westward of the fish-pond, and entered Speenham- land nearer the town than the present road, as indicated on the accompanying Plan of the Second Battle. A reference to the Plan will show that the Eoyalists occupied an advantageous position in andabout the town of Newbury, pro- tected on one flank by the Eiver Kennet, and in some degree covered by the guns of Donnington Castle on the other. They strengthened their front with breastworks and entrenchments, and occupied in force several houses and gardens, which extended conveniently beyond the town. One house in par- ticular (Shaw House), the residence of Sir Thomas Dolman, stood in a most convenient situation, a little in advance of the chief breastwork. In addition to this, there was a row of smaller houses^' to the east of the present Eectory, which were turned to the best advantage for the purposes of defence. All these, as weU as the gardens of Shaw House, which they strengthened by thick embankments, were filled with troops, under the command of Sir Eichard Page. At every window, battlement, and parapet, musquet and pike were ready for service ; all the hedges and ditches swarmed with skirmishers ; and every convenient mound was surmounted with one or more pieces of artillery. Sir Jacob Astley and Sir George Lisle kept the passage of the Lamborne at Shaw. Sir Thomas Hooper and Sir John Brown were placed with a strong body of horse and foot in the fields by the little hill on which the Water-tower now stands ; around it a work was cast up, and * These houses, called the "Hop Gardens," were removed some years ago, and several cannon balls were found imbedded in the roofs. »«1 »> O tt -3 O "",' <>o«« «)»tl« **>?« POSITION OF THE EOYALISTS. 153 they occupied this as well as the hedges and lane (Long Lane), and the old orchard above it. Colonel Thelwall with his Reading brigade, held the gardens, and formed the reserve. Sir Bernard Astley's troops lay around an entrenched house in the park at Shaw, '' between Shaw and Newbury."* Every house in the village of Shaw was occupied and fortified by the Eoyalists. In one res23ect alone, however, and that a very essential point, their line on this side was weak. A hill (Clay Hill and the adjacent elevated ground), little more than a musquet-shot in their front, offered to an assailant every facility for the secure and undiscovered formation of columns of attack ; and the result of the coming action proved that against that solitary defect in his position, all the other advantages possessed by the King could not avail. Prince Maurice, with his brigade of Cornish horse and two brigades of foot and artillery, was posted in the village of Speen below Speen Hill. On the heath above, hastily constructed works had been thrown up by the Royalists ; and here were stationed part of the Cornish foot and the Duke of York's regiment, commanded by Sir William St. Leger, with five pieces of artillery. Tho ground on which the King's left thus rested is evident enough at the present day, thoagh the name of "Speen Hill" has been in later times wrongly applied to the well-known suburb between Newbury and the village of Speen. Speen Hill proper, the eminence referred to in the various narratives of the Battle, is the hill rising from the village of Speen towards Benham Park. The heath above, a portion of which still remains uncultivated, at that time extended over the now enclosed fields for some distance ; on the west it skirted the Poman road from Speen to Cirencester by the way of Wick- ham and Baydon, and on the south the present Bath road. Sir Edward Walker thus refers to it: — "At the entrance of the Heath, between two Hedges we cast up a work which cleared the Heath and all the fields to the North even to the river [Lamborne] ; to the South, within the hedge, there was one narrow field, and from thence a perpendicular descent into a Marish [Speen Moor] between that and the Piver Kennet. This was our position, wherein, had the traverse been finished and made down to the Marish, altho' we were inferior in number, yet we should have sufficiently provided * This eiitreiiclied house formerly stood at the south-east augle of Shaw Park : but was pulled down many years since. Considerable remains of the earthworks still exist in its vicinity, and are marked on the Plan. u 154 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. to have witlistood their force."*' Mid-way between Newhury and Speen, Sir Humphrey Benett's brigade of horse was drawn up. f Lastly the King with the main body of the horse and artiller}^, was stationed in the fields between Don- nington Castle and Newbury ; and this was nearly the centre of his position. Strong guards were placed on the south of the town, and detachments of horse guarded the outlying passages of the Lamborne at Bagnor and Boxford to check any advance upon the fords. Owing, however, to the want of a sufficient strength of cavalry, diminished by the loss of three of his best regiments which had been despatched to Banbury, the King was at this time overmatched in his favourite and usually most serviceable arm. He also had no effective reserve to support the scattered infantry, and was thus deprived both of the power of checking hostile reconnoitring parties and of obtaining intelligence of his opponent's operations. CHAPTER VI. MOVEMENTS OF THE PAELIAMENTAEY AEMY. The following letters, read in the House of Commons at the time, will supply all necessary information concerning the movements of the two divisions of the ParKamentary army under Essex and Manchester, after they had returned to Eeading,! and are interesting on account of their precision and the local particulars they contain : — *' My Lords and Gentlemen, The King's foote quartered last night at King's Cleer seven * 'Hist. Discourses,' p. 111. t Sir Humphrey Benett's Brigade of Horse consisted of the under- mentioned Regiments. Symonds's 'Notes,' Harl. MS., No. 986. 1. Reg. Col Bennet, High-Sherife of Southn. had 9 troops in the field, almost full, but [only] 2 colors, [colours]. Lieut. -Col Verney, son to Sir Edm. V., who was slayne at Edghill. Srt. Maior Richard Aldworth. Capt. Mr. Robt. Smyth, brother to Colonel Smyth, who was taken prisoner, wth. Sr Alex. Denton, at Hilsden Howse, Com. Buck. 2. Reg. Sr. Geo. Vaughan, Colonel, Sr. Robt. Welsh, Lieut. -Colonel, J 80. but [only] 2 Troopes. t D'Ewes's ' Diary,' Harl. MS. 166, fol. 139. MOVEMENTS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ARMY. 155 miles from here. A great body of Horse went towards tliem the last night, a party of which commanded by Captain Ffincher one of Sir William Waller's captaynes went soe neare them that they took sixty prisoners, some of them being officers. My Lord of Manchester last night gave notice to the Com- mittee at Reading, and desired them to send it to Abingdon, that a great body of our Horse marched toward them the last night, and that onr army marcheth to-day, if they can withstand a storme. We hope they will be in noe danger. The whole army now marcheth away. Wee rest, My Lords, your humble Servants, A. Johnston. Jo. Crew. Basingstoke, Octobr. [22] 1644." ''My Lords and Gentlemen, My Lord Generall [Essex] quartered all night at Bradfeild six miles from Reading. My Lord of Manchester's forces, which had the van quartered at Bucklebury upon Intelligence that the King's army continued at Newbery. This morning about 10 of the clocke the Horse and Foot are all drawne out upon Bucklebury heath 4 miles [it is about 5 miles from the site of the Parliamentary camp] from Newbery, great bodies of the enemyes Horse are in view, but whether to face or engage we know not. Our resolution if they will not stand their charge [is] to pursue them. My Lord Generall hath had upon him some indisposition for divers claies, which hath been more encreased by his striving with it, hee would not be persuaded from marching yesterday, and was resolved to have marched to-day, but not taking his rest last night hee is is growne feverish and was forced to goe back to Reading on a feather bed layd in his Coach, here will be much want of his presence, wee shall conceale his absence as much as we can, and hope that those which are here will make all the supply that they can by extraordinary diligence. Wee remain, my Lords, your humble servants, ARCHIBALD Johnston. Jo. Ceew. Bucklebery Heath, 25 October, 1644. Since the wrighting this Letter it was thought fit at a Counsell of Warre held upon the Heath that we should march to Thatcham 2 miles from Newbery [3 miles]. Wee have now intelligence that the enemye's Horse and Foote are drawne up betweene Newbery and Denington Castle. This night we are to marche beyond Thatcham either to the right or left hand as the feilds shall be most advantageous. Our officers continue very unanimous and our soldiers are very cheerful upon their going on towards the enemy." 156 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. Ou the following day the two Parliamentary Commissioners wrote from Thatcham to the Derby-House Committee to the following eifect : — " My Lords and Gentlemen, Yesterday upon Bucklebiuy Heath wee received your letter, which gave us hope that the army will shortl}^ receive the provisions which you have sent. The newes of Newcastle came very seasonably to us, which much encouraged the souldiers, and so affected them that many of the regiments went presently of their own accord to solemn prayer. The army about an hower before night came within a -mjle and within view of the enemy, who was drawne forth in a body in a place of advantage neere Newbery. Our dragoones and theirs fii'ed upon one another for two howers, twenty of our horses were killed, but not one of our men lost. A captain of our Horse, who came up in the vann, was shott in the thigh, six o'clock in the evening. It was resolved last night that the field should be viewed by the chiefe officers early this morning. It will be an advantage to us to set upon his army on this side Newbery, because wee shall be betwixt the enemy and our provisions ; and to fall upon him on the other side, because we shall be betwixt the enemy and Prince Eupert, who is dayly expected with additional forces, the ground not having been viewed they could determine nothing herein. Being informed by those that came from London that they met many souldiers going homewards, wee renew our desire that some exemplary punishment may be inflicted upon them. Wee remaine, your Lops, humble servants, W. JoHxsTox. Jo. Crewe. Wee have had a faire night (blessed be God), and hope for a faire day." ^' The Parliamentary force under Manchester and Waller encamped in Sir Humphrey Forster's park at Aldermaston f * Letter-book, Derby-House Committee, Public Record Office. t Sir Humphrey Forster's estates were sequestered by the Parliament ; and in liis proposition to compound Sir Humi^hrey xDleads that his estate lies in the King's quarters, and is subject to every motion and change of the war, and hath been equally possessed by both sides, whereupon all the stock is taken away, the walls of the jDark and the fences broken, and damage done by the soldiers to the value of £8000 : that his children have been in want, and himself hath subsisted ever since by borrowing. That he has a family of nine children, and his eldest son, who has been a Captain in the Parliamentary service, has a considerable amount of pay not yet paid to him. Sir Humphrey con- cludes by stating that he has voluntarily taken the covenant, and found six men for the defence of Reading. (State Papers ; Domestic Series, Public Record Office.) In a petition to the Parliament from MOVEMENTS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ARMY 157 on October 23rd and 24tli, and tlie next morning (Friday 25tli) they crossed the Kennet at Padworth, and came to the ren- dezvous on Bucklebury Heath, as will be seen by the corres- pondence, having with them three days' provisions. Here they were joined by the other division, which had been under the command of the Lord- General, the Earl of Essex ; and the two columns being thus concentrated prepared for action. At mid-day they appeared in the fields between Thatcham and Shaw, on the east side of Newbury, where some sharp encounters soon ensued between advanced parties of the Parliamentary horse and the cavalry outposts of the Poyalists, but without serious loss on either side. According to local tradition, a considerable engagement between the cavalry outposts of the two armies took place in the fields between Dunston Park and Red Field, to the west of the village of Thatcham. The bodies of the slain are said to have been buried in a meadow forming part of '' Mortimer Farm," on the east side of a road known as "Lawrence's Lane," which leads from " Three-Chimney Lane " to Buckle- bury Heath. Meanwhile Essex himself was not fated to take part in this second trial of strength with the Poyalist forces near Newbuiy. His illness did not diminish on his return to Peading, where he remained alone, despondent and inactive. Informed of this. Parliament charged a joint- committee of the Lords and Commons to wait on him, and "renew the assurance of its trusting affection." " This was not," sajs Whitelock, "(as was given out) a piece of Courtship, but, I think, real, and there was cause enough that it should be so, the Greneral having so highly deserved from them : yet there were some had designs against him, and were desirous to remove him from his cofmnand, because they were jealous, that he was too much inclined to peace, and the f avoimng of the King and his party. I think I know as much of his mind as others did, and always observed him to wish for peace, yet not upon any Lady Anne, wife of Sir Humphrey Forster, dated Ajpril 17th, 1645, she states that, on account of Sir Humphrey's harsh treatment, she has long lived at a distance from him, and that when he became a delin- quent the Committee for sequestrations made several orders for peti- tioner's maintenance out of his estates, and on the 21st March last, after full hearing, ordered that she should enjoy the fifth part of his goods and estates. She prays that in the ordinance for clearing liim of his delinquency a special proviso may be inserted, securing her a fifth part of his estate, as formerly orderecl, or that some other provision may be made for her maintenance. The proviso was ordered to be inserted. ('The Lord's Journal,' VH, pp. 384 and 420.) 158 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. dishonourable or unjust terms ; lie was a Lover of Monarchy and Nobility, which he suspected some designed to destroy, together with Grentry, Ministry, and Magistracy, which humour then began to boyl up ; but he resolved to support them, and wanted not advice to that end. But the jealousies upon him (who was a most faithful and gallant man and servant to the pubHck) gave him great trouble in his thoughts, and they did work so high with his enemies, that some gave out he was by private intimation to forbear engaging in this Service ; and for certain he was not in it." ^' There can be no doubt therefore of the cause of the Earl's absence from the Second Battle; and the following letter written by him to the Derby-House Committee in reply to their address further corroborates this view. ' ' My Lords and Gentlemen, It is a comfort to mee in this sad tyme of mine affliction, in minde and body, to see that I am continued in your care, being at this present soe uselesse a servant to ye State. The particulars of my disease, I shall crave pardon that I deferre the accompt of it till Doctor St. John's, old Mr. Bowden of Beading, and Langley my owne Chirurgion shall set downe the trew sta^te as much as they can perceive of it as yet, only thus much, I think it has been much occasioned (the incon- veniency I am like to suffer) by striving soe long with it ; thinking it the greatest worldly misfortune that would have befallen mee at this present, but it is God's doing, and I must with all humility submitt to his pleasure — soe acknowledging your Lordship's great favoure in sending hither, I rest, my Lords, Your Lordships' most humble servant, Eeading, 27 Oct., 1644." Essex. The absence of the Earl of Essex was carefully concealed from the troops, as it was known that he exercised a powerful influence in rousing the enthusiasm of his own regiments, and imparting additional spirit to the whole army. All went on favourably ; and it was encouraging to find that during the night of the 25th the detached parties of the King's troops posted on the height which overlooks Shaw House and the town of Newbury were withdrawn, and that the soldiers of the Parliament occupied the position from which the Royalists had been dislodged by their advance. The site of the Parliamentary Camp was on an extensive tract of elevated table-land, stretching from Clay HiU for a * Whitelock's 'Memorials,' p.';^103. PEELUDE TO THE BATTLE. 159 considerable distance towards Aslimore Green and Cold Ash. Common. It is now called, from the gravelly character of the land, ''The Stones." Skirting this plateau on the west, is an escarpment, which forms a continuous natural rampart, in some places so well defined as to have the appearance of an artificial work. The meadows below the southern edge are now known as ''Runaways." Donnington Castle stands out boldly in front of the camping ground. On Clay Hill, near "Red Field," is still to be seen part of an extensive entrenchment or breastwork, which helped to defend the Parliamentary front. It is about twelve feet wide by eight feet deep, and originally extended along that face of the hill which has since been to a great extent removed in the process of digging clay. The ditch has been partially filled in ; and the workmen in removing the earth have found many cannon- balls, bullets, and other relics of warfare, including scores of the well-known tobacco pipes of the Caroline period. Wood- ashes have also been found in heaps beneath the surface in many parts of the higher ground, indicating the remains of the camp-fires around which the soldiers of the Parliament bivouacked. CHAPTER VII. PRELUDE TO THE BATTLE. When it was known in London that the two armies were at last in the presence of each other, the shops were closed, the people rushed to the churches, and a solemn fast was ordained, to seek the blessing of the Lord on the coming battle.^' In the absence of Prince Rupert, the King again led his own -army, assisted by his nephew Prince Maurice, the old Earl of Brentford acting as Lieutenant-General, and Lord Goring being in command of the Horse. Amongst his Majesty's more prominent supporters present in the engage- ment were : — The Duke of Richmond and Lennox, the Earls of Cleveland, Lindsey, Newport, Berkshire, Rivers ; Lords Hopton, Capel, Colepepper, Bellasis, Digby, Herbert, Ber- nard Stuart ; Sir Jacob Astley, Sir Bernard Astley, Sir Wm. Bronkard, Sir Edward Walker, Sir Wm. St. Leger, Sir Anthony St. Leger, Sir John Cansfield, Sir Richard Page, Sir John Owen, Sir Thomas Hooper, Sir George Lisle, Sir * Rushworth, 'Hist. CoUections,' II. 3, 719—720. 160 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. John Brown, Sir John Grenville, Sir Humphrey Benett, Sir Henry Gage, Sir Richard Lane, Sir Thomas Bassett, Sir Joseph Wagstaffe, Sir Charles Lloyd ; Colonels Glerard, Ashburnham, Markham, Leke, Topping, Thornhill, Thelwall, Legge, Fielding, Hamilton, Bovel, and Capt. Symonds, the Diarist, who was also present at the subsequent relief of Donnington Castle. On this occasion the Parliament was represented by many of its most eminent and foremost leaders. Among those whose names have been more prominently handed down to us as associated with this action and its concurrent incidents may be mentioned the following : — The Earl of Manchester, Sir William Waller, Sir William Balfour, Sir Arthur Hesil- rige, Sir James Harrington, Sir John Hurry (who has now changed sides), Major-Greneral Crawford, Major-Gen eral Skippon, Major-General Holbourne, Lieut. -General Oliver Cromwell, Lieut. -General Middleton, Lieut. -General Ludlow, and Colonels Berkeley or Barclay, Norton, Ingoldsby, Pindar, Birch, Hooper, Jones, and Capt. Robert Hammond. The early morning of Saturday, 26 October, was devoted by the Parliamentarians to the pushing of a reconnaisance. This the Royalists endeavoured to interrupt by sending out bodies of musqueteers to skirmish, while both parties kept up a smart cannonade ; the Parliamentarians from a battery which they had established on the summit of Clay Hill ; the Cavaliers from the lower ground in the vicinity of the town. For some time the firing produced little effect on either side, but towards evening the Royalists brought two of their guns round to the south of the River Lamborne, at Woodspeen ; and these they so planted as to enfilade the enemy's line as far as a bend on Red Field exposed it. The Wiltshire regiment of cavalry in particular, commanded by Col. Ludlow, which was on the slopes towards the Lamborne, suffered severely, and was compelled to shift its ground. Ludlow's cousin Gabriel Ludlow, who had distin- guished himseK at Wardour Castle, here received his death- wound. This incident on Red Field is thus related by Ludlow : * — "My Regiment being that day on the Guard, received the greatest Damage; amongst others my Cousin Gabriel Ludlow, who was a Cornet therein, and who had behaved himseK so well in the Defence of Warder-Castle, was killed : He died not immediately after he was shot ; so that having caused him to be removed out of the reach of their Guns, and * 'Memoirs of Ludlow,' vol i, pp. 129-130. PRELUDE TO THE BATTLE. 161 procured a Chirurgeon to search, his wounds, he found Ms Belly broken, and Bowels torn, his Hip-bone broken all to shivers, and the Bullet lodged in it ; notwithstanding which be recovered some sense, tho the Chirurgeon refused to dress him, looking on him as a dead Man. This Accident troubled me exceedingly; he being one who had expressed great Affection to me, and of whom I had great hopes that he would be useful to the Publick. In this condition he desired me to kiss him, and I not presently doing it, thinking he had talked lightly, he pressed me again to do him that favour; wbereby observing him to be sensible, I kissed him : and soon after having recommended his Mother, Brothers, and Sisters to my Care, he died." A portion of Ludlow's regiment was commanded by Major Wansey, a prominent man for the Parliament in AViltshire, who, ' ' in order that the wbole regiment might not be lost in one engagement, had secured himself in the rear of all." Here Ludlow found him in the evening after the battle on the 27th, when darkness compelled the combatants to retire. Finding the King so strongly placed, protected by Donning- ton Castle, the Kennet, and the Lamborne, the Parliamentary generals held a Council of War on Eed Field. It was tben resolved to divide their force into two columns. AValler and Cromwell, with all the horse and foot which had lately been under the leadership of Essex, and four regiments of Trained Bands, under Skippon (one regiment had been left in garrison at Eeading), were to make a Hank march, and attack the Eoyalists' position on Speen Hill; while Manchester and Crawford with about 3000 foot, and a body of 1500 or 1800 horse under Ludlow, made a demonstration from the hill at Shaw. It was further agreed, that, as soon as the latter body should, by hearing the discharge of cannon, understand that their comrades at Speen HiU were engaged, Manchester should force the passage at Shaw; and thus, if both sides succeeded, they would completely encompass the King and have him at their mercy. The attention of the enemy was meanwhile to be diverted from the main body of the Parlia- mentarians while making the flank march, by continuous attacks on their position at 8haw, until the signal was given from the Speen side for the main blow to be struck. These matters are thus referred to in the documents of the period. In Cromwell's 'Evidence'^'' it is stated that ''On Saturday, October 26, when we came up to Eedhill Field, * From the ' Information against the Earl of Maiichester ; ' State Papers, Pubhc Record Ofiice. X 162 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. within shot of Shawe, and found the passes of the river soe possest against us, it was agreed that the Lord-General's and the City foote, with the greatest part of the horse, should march about by Boxford and attempt to breake in upon the enemy on that side by Speene, and that his Lordship, with his owne foote and about 1500 horse, should stay behind at Shawe side, and fall on there at the same instant that he should perceive the other part to fall on at Speene (which was already in his viewe)." The news of a body of Parliamentarians being on their march to Speen Hill a2:)pears to have been brought to Lord Digby at Newbury on the Sunday morning ; ^' but, owing to the numerical weakness of his army, it was not possible for the King (who had from the first determined to stand on the defensive), to dispatch at that time a force to oppose "Waller's march, and at the same time to keep Manchester (whose numbers had been over-estimated) in check at Shaw. It seems, however, somewhat surprising that notice was not given earlier to the Royalists at Speen of Waller's march. Clarendon states that they were taken unawares. The King had indeed sent a body of troops, about 500 in number, under Sir John Douglas, to guard the pass of the River Lamborne at Boxford; where they made but a feeble resist- ance when the enemy appeared in such superior numbers. Acting on the decision of the Council of AVar, on Saturday evening the right wing of the Army of the Parliament, under Waller and Cromwell, began their march towards Speen Hill, the route taken being apparently by the old Bucklebuiy road, and Cold Ash, to the Hermitage road, thence by Prior's Court and through the village of Chieveley to North Heath, where they halted for the night. f Early next morning (Sunday) they were on the move; and, march- ing as rapidly as the heavy and hilly roads would admit, by Winterbourne J chui'ch and woods, they passed the village of * Letter from Lord Digby to Prince Rupert, dated Newbury, 27 Oct., Addl. MSS., Brit. Mus., No. 18980. So also— "They learu'd in the morning (Sunday) our greatest force was a-marching toward Spen Hill:" * Narrative of the Earl of Manchester's Campaign;' State Papers; Public Record Office. t ' ' On Saturday the greater part of the Parliamentary forces retired to Ckieveley, and quartered there that night in the open fields." Oldmixon, 'History of the Stuarts,' VI., p. 262. The same route is stated in Rushworth's 'Hist. Collections,' II., 3, 724. + " Wliile the Cannon play'd from the Hill \C\&j Hill] they drew the rest of their army through Winterbourne towards Boxford to have girt in His Majesty." "Mercurius Aulicus," Monday, 28 Oct., 1644. PRELUDE TO THE BATTLE. 163 Boxford. Fording tlie Eiver Lamborne at the latter place, as abeady noticed, they met with only slight opposition from the Eoyalist outpost here stationed to defend the passage. Crossing the Newbury-and-Wantage road, they proceeded by High-street Lane to Wickham Heath, which they gained at the cross-roads. There is sufficient evidence in a letter from the two Parlia- mentary Commissioners, addressed to the Derby-House Com- mittee,^' to support this oj)inion as to the route taken. They state that "Yesterday the forces which went from Thatcham towards Newbury, by tha way of Wickham Heath and were there drawen up, set upon a worke and breastworke, well- guarded with ordnance, horse, and foote, which commanded all the wayes which lead to that side of the field betwixt Newberry and Bennington Castle, where the King's army was drawne up." They " passed the river," says Clarendon, "which was not well defended by the officer appointed to guard it, with horse and foot, very many of them being gone off from their guards, as never imagining that they would, at the time of day, have attempted a quarter that was thought the strongest of all. But having thus got the river, they marched in good order, with very good bodies of foot winged with horse, toward the Heath." f " About which time the Earl of Essex's forces [these recently under his command], all Waller's, and part of Manchester's horse, x^ursued their design of falling on the quarter at Speen, of which we had notice from Bennington, from whence their motion was discovered. And had Sir John Bouglas actively opj)Osed them (who was the day before sent with 300 horse and 200 foot beyond Bennington Castle to that end), they could not so easily have passed the river." | The distance from North Heath to Speen Hill (the " Heath ") is about 7 or 8 miles as traversed by the Parlia- mentarians: and this, considering the bad roads, was a fair four hours' march for such a large body of troops, who were not allowed to proceed altogether unmolested; for upon the high ground, they had been perceived by the garrison at Bennington Castle, and Sir John Boys had despatched a small body of horse to intercept them. These made a sharp attack on their rear ; but, soon recovering from this slight interference, the Parliamentary Generals pushed on, and * ' Letter- Book, Derby-Ho. Com.,' No. 50, Public Kecord Oface. t Clarendon's Hist, of the Eebellion,' IL, p. 547. % Walker's ' Hist. Discourses,' p. Ill; 164 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. shortly approached the outworks of the E-oyalists ; but it was nearly one o'clock before the artillery and the rear came up, and about three o'clock in the afternoon before the army was deployed for battle. CHAPTER VIII. MANCHESTEE ATTACKS SHAW. — ACTION AT SPEEN— ATTACK ON SHAW HOUSE.— EETEEAT OF THE KING.— EOLL OF KILLED & WOUNDED. Leaving Waller and Cromwell arranging the preliminaries of battle on Speen Hill, we will return for a moment to Manchester's force left on the hills at Shaw. As soon as it was dajdight, on Sunday morning, which at this season (27th October) would be about seven o'clock, Manchester commenced the attack on the royalist post at Shaw, by despatching a body of 400 musqueteers to assault the entrenched position at the south-east angle of Shaw Park, crossing the Lamborne by a temporary bridge thrown over the river at the foot of Clay Hill the previous night."^' They advanced at a quick pace over the meadows at what is now the back of Shaw Crescent, and favoured by the unevenness of the ground, and the haze of the early autumnal morning, were almost un- perceived until they surprised the guard at the works covering the passage of the river and the house at Shaw. Without a moment's hesitation the Parliamentarians furiously assailed and mastered the party at the breastworks; but, their im- petuosity carrying them too far, they were checked by a charge from the royal cavalry under Sir George Lisle and Sir Bernard Astley near Shaw House; and, being without * Near the Lamborne, as indicated on the Phm, where the Parlia- mentarians crossed the river in this attack, several skeletons were found some years ago. In Redfield, also, on the removal of a bank, about 40 years since^ three skeletons were discovered lying side by side. MANCHESTER ATTACKS SHAW. 165 adequate support, they were driven back with great loss. To add to their discomfiture, in attempting to regain the temporary bridge and retreat on their main body, they came into collision with a reserve of their own men, who were tardily coming to their support; and in the melee many fell by the swords of the pursuing cavaliers, and numbers were drowned in the river in endeavouring to reach the opposite bank. In this the first onset, about 40 prisoners and 100 stand of arms were taken by the royalists. This affair is thus alluded to by the contemporaries. — "My Lord of Man- chester commanded a party of 400 musqueteers to falle over the little river which passes by Dunington Castle, over a bridge, which most dextrously hee commanded the night before, to prepare for the diversion of the King's forces from goeing to Speen Hill, where they learned in the morneing our greatest force was a marching, which accor- dingly was done, and if those who weare commanded had not exceeded theire commission, [they J would have had greate victory; and as it was they tooke two workes from the enemy wherein they tooke a captayne and severall prisoners, and advanced too farr without order, and were repulsed, to the greate greife of the Earle of Manchester."^' "Sunday, as soone as day, they put over a tertia of foot over a bridge they made in the night, intending to surprize one of our guards. But the guard retreated to the next; and joyned, fell upon them, being nothing considerable in number, made their two bodyes retreat, killed some, tooke about 40 prisoners and a 100 armes: then they lay quiet till 3 afternoone, onely our cannon and theirs playd."t Again: — "Sunday, October 27. Some of Manchester's Forces and London Trained Bands t crossed the River Kennet [Lamborne] between the Hill and Newbury, and did some Execution on those who kept the Pass against them. But Sir Bernard Astley, coming to Bescue, forceth the other over the Eiver."§ After the unsuccessful attempt to pierce the Royalist line at Shaw, no further effort, with any vigour, was made by Manchester until the pre-concerted signal informed him that Waller's force had fallen on at Speen Hill. The interval until four o'clock was occupied by warm skirmishes between the two parties, accompanied by an active interchange of * 'Narrative of the Earl of Manchester's Campaign;' State Papers, Public Eecord Office. t Symonds's 'Diary,' p. 145. X The greater part of the Trained Eands were with the right wing. § Baker's 'Chronicle,' p. 579. 166 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. artillery fire. Manchester, busy with, his preparations for advancing in force, rode to and fro, and spiritedly addressed his men, while his Chaplain, Simeon Ashe, ^' offered up fervent prayers for their success. The right wing of the Parliamentary Army, having success- fully accomplished their flank march, were now on this Sunday morning, whilst the bells of the neighbouring churches were sounding for divine worship, preparing for the contest. Waller was in chief command; Sir William Balfour led the right wing of horse; Lieut. -General Cromwell the left; Major-Greneral Skippon, the foot. Their men were rapidly placed in position on the high ground between the Wick- ham Eoad and Stockcross, overlooking on their right the Kennet Yalley and the scene of their triumph the pre- ceding year. At the same time, the Eoyal trumpets rang out ''To arms!" The scattered troopers, many of whom, in fancied security, were engaged in foraging for their horses, galloped back to their comrades ; but before their ranks could be well formed, a shout of revenge ''for the business in Cornwall"! was heard along the Parliamentary line; the red, white, and blue colours were unfurled, J and the ' ' forlorn hope" of 803 musqueteers came on with unshrinking courage. These were veterans who had lately served under their brave old leader Essex, and were now led by Lieut.-Col. Lloyd, with Hurry for his Major, nephew of the notorious renegade Sir John Hurry. They were supported by Colonel Aldridge's brigade, consisting of his own, Davies's, Fortescue's, and Ingoldsby's regiments. Essex's old regiment was sent up as a support on the right, where the Trained Bands were already engaged, and urged on by the excitement which prevailed, they rushed pellmell into the Eoyalists' en- * Simeon Ashe, Mancliester's Chaplain, was author of 'A True Relation,' &c. Dr. Calamy siDcaks of him as a man of great sanctity, who went seasonably to heaven at the very time he was cast out of the church. He was buried on the eve of St. Bartholomew's day, 1662. Simeon fell under the obloquy of the Cromwellians : and he had a considerable share in the restoration of Charles II, whom he went to congratulate at Breda. t It is said that the Cornishmen behaved with great inhumanity to the Parliamentary soldiers who f eU into their hands on the surrender of Lord Essex in Cornwall. t " Col. Aldridge, blew colours with lyons rampant or. Col. Davies, white colours, Citty, London." Symonds's 'Diary,' p. 66. Col. Ingoldsby's colours were "gules, a scroll in three folds, its parts making two C's conjoined and endorsed, on which these words 'Pro Deo et Republica,' fringed sable with gules and argent." Prestwick's ' Respublica,' p. 36. ACTION AT SPEEN. 167 trenchments. A desperate figlit ensued ; the blood of the Cavaliers was up ; and, fighting hand to hand, they slaughtered their assailants in heaps, as they mounted the bank, and the ditch was soon filled with the dead and dying. Major Hurry, bravely leading the "'forlorn-hope" (his colonel having already been struck down), fell mortally wounded. The gallant Col. Gawler, who had done good service for the Parliament in many a bloody field, dropped lifeless from his horse, pierced by a royalist bullet. For a moment the enemy was repulsed ; but determined to carry a position so necessary in affecting a junction with Manchester, he renewed the attack. An hour's hard fighting succeeded; and then bringing all their energy to bear on this point, in the midst of a storm of shot from the gallant defenders, and from the guns at Donnington Castle,"^* the Parliamentary soldiers again came to the charge. Forward! was the word; and, despite the resolute resistance of the brave but out- numbered Poyalists, they fought with a calm determination that nothing could withstand. The King's troops at last gave way. Flushed by this temporary success, their op- ponents pressed forward with increased impetuosity. Again a stirring cheer arose from their ranks, and making a dash at the guns they had lost in Cornwall, now deserted by their late captors, who fled at headlong speed down the hill, ' they clapped their hats on the touch-holes, and embraced them with tears of joy." f The forces of Prince Maurice in the village of Speen, unable to stand against the overwhelming numbers of the Parliament, stayed the tide for a time, but at length yielded to superior force. Driven from their position to join in the retreat with the remnant from the Heath, they fell back disorganised on the main body of their horse and artillery in the fields ''between Speen and Newbury," and hastily endeavoured to reform their broken ranks. The Koyalists were cleared from off the Heath. The guns| lost at Lostwithiel, thus regained, were limbered up and sent to the rear, together with those which had been planted at the foot of the hill. Waller now launched his cavalry in pursuit of the retreating enemy, and avenged in merciless slaughter the cause of the Parliament. Well might the * Letter from the Two Commissioners to the Derby-Ho. Committee, 27 Oct., 1644. t Ludlow's 'Memoirs,' p. 130. X ' ' We tooke 9 good brass pieces, six of them being sakers, which we left behind in Cornwall." (Skippon's Letter to the Derby-Ho. Committee.) The other three guns were with Prince Maurice. 168 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. Commissioners write, " Wee desire to give God the glory of this victory, it being His worke and upon His day;"* while Waller exclaimed, like the Fifth Harry, in the fulness of his gratitude, ''0 God, Thy arm was here ! And not to us, but to Thy name alone, Ascribe we all." Great was the panic among the Cavaliers at this moment. They ^' threw down their arms, and ran away, crying 'Devils! Devils ! They fight like Devils I ' For ours gave no quarter to any they knew to be of the Cornish." f Following up this advantage, while Waller fell on the Eoyalists' rear in their retreat from Speen Hill, Sir William Balfour, with the right wing of horse, swept round under the hill, on the south side of Speen Church, skirting the Kennet, and, having gained ''the large field" between Speen and New- bury, where stood the King, with the young Prince of Wales and many of his attendants, he made a spirited attack upon the royal guard. It is evident that for a short time the King and his staff were in imminent danger; for a whole brigade of Eoyalist horse, at the first shock, outnumbered to a great degree and abeady demoralized by increasing panic, reeled and wavered, and at length, giving ground to the advancing host, put spurs to their horses, and fled in disorder towards the town of Newbury. J The King, dismayed at the sight, vainly endeavoured to restrain the flight of his retreating squadrons, and lead them on again ; but the authority of command was gone, and he found himself surrounded by the enemy. At this crisis Sir John Cansfield, § with two troops of the Queen's regiment, gallantly galloped forward to the support of his royal master. Lord Bernard Stuart and his life-guards * Letter from the Two Commissioners to Derby-Ho. Committee, 28, Oct., 1644. t Vicar's ' Pari. Chron.' Loud., 1644. X Sir Edward Walker, (Hist Discourses, p. 112), relates that the body of royalist cavalry which had given way at Speen, were speedily forced back into action by the guard posted at Newbury Bridge. It has been thought the river Kennet was not bridged in the towai at that period, but an apx)lication from the Mayor and certain inhabitants of Newbury to the Council of the Prince of Wales, afterwards K. Charles I., dated March 1, 1623, is extant, requesting assistance towards repairing the Bridge at Newbury, which had suddenly toppled over into the river the preceding 8th of February. Tanner MSS., Bodleian Lib., No. 314, fol. 214. § The motto on Sir John Cansfield' s banner was from the 101st Psalm, — "Fiat pax in virtute tua" — Estrenne's 'Mottos and Devices.' ACTION AT SPEEN. 169 gathered round the King ; and rapidly wheeling round, to get more ground, with the troopers of Sir John they rushed valiantly against the eager enemy. A deadly strife ensued ; many a horse ran riderless over the fields ; the Parliament men were dispersed ; and the King was rescued. The brave cavaliers, however, too ardent in their enthusiasm, always led away by the same fault, pushed on too far. The calm old Skippon, not less cool than daring, permitted them to continue the pursuit until their impetuosity carried them within a few yards of his infantry, when, at a signal, the musqueteers and pikemen furiously assailed them, and they were forced to retire, exposed to a galling and destructive fire. At this moment Cromwell, with the left wing of horse, well in hand, came upon the scene, and made for Sir Humphrey Benett's cavalry brigade, stationed on the south-west side of Speen Fields towards Newbury, which was without doubt the weakest point in the Eoyal line. In ten minutes Sir Humphrey's steel-clad troopers, panic-struck at so vigorous a charge, and taken at a disadvantage, were completely over- powered, and had well nigh been annihilated had not Lord Bernard Stuart and his guards secured their retreat on Shaw. Cromwell now advanced ''towards the north side of the field," in the direction of Donnington ; but he was met by Lord Goring, with the Earl of Cleveland's brigade, who charged with telling effect on the leading squadrons, and forced them to retire over a hedge. Goring' s troopers leaped the obstacle in pursuit, but Skippon, once more rallying his battalions, drove him back in turn, routed and dispersed, with considerable loss. The gallant old Earl of Cleveland, at the head of his regiment, allowed his courage to carry him too far ahead of his men ; and, his horse falling under him, he was taken prisoner.'^* "The Knight is left alone, his steel-cap cleft in twain, His good buff jerkin crimson' d o'er with many a gory stain : Yet still he waves his banner, and cries amid the rout, ' For Church and King, fair gentlemen ! spur on, and fight it out r''—Fraed. The battle on the Speen side of the Eoyalist position had now raged three or four hours; the sun had set, and the night was fast closing in, yet the contest was continued in * "Drawing up (with GTeneral Goring) his brigade, at the east side of Spiene, in the Second Newberry fight, to secure the King's guards, in much danger, with such old English valor (telling his men they must now charge home), that he scattered the enemy, till too far engaged and overpowered he was taken prisoner, as the King himself was like to be." Lloyd's 'Memoires,' p. 570. Y 170 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. broken order, but for the most part with, unabated spirit. At last all formation was lost; and it would be tedious, if not impossible, to continue the narration of what had now become mere skirmishes in the dark, friend and foe being commingled. The fighting gradually ceased, and both parties occupied themselves in drawing together their scattered forces. This is borne out by Cromwell who states in his Evidence against the Earl of Manchester that ''Wee on the other side [Speen], haveing gayned most of the hedges toward Newberry f eild, did cease and drawe our men together to avoyd confusion in the darke by that scattered way of fighting." The darkness of the night, until the moon rose, was advan- tageous to the dispirited Eoyalists, many of whom escaped under its cover wbo would otherwise have been killed or taken prisoners. As there was considerable rivalry between the leaders in this battle, discrepancies in the various accounts of the action are very marked. Thus, Manchester, whose hos- tility to the futui-e Protector was well known, gave it as bis opinion before the House of Lords ^' that ''On that day there was no service at all performed by Cromwell." But this is not at all likely; and personal dislike must have warped the Earl's mind. Oliver was not a man to stand idle when any fighting was to be done ; and in the despatch of the Two Commissioners he is expressly mentioned as having done great service, — an assertion far more likely to be true than that of his comrade in the fight. We turn now to the course of the action at Shaw. About four o'clock, f Manchester heard the distant firing on Speen Hill, and beheld from the eminence with joy and thank- fulness the hasty, disorderly retreat of the enemy towards Newbury. Animated with this encouraging sight, says his Chaplain, Simeon Ashe, the Earl prepared to descend to the more difficult work of forcing the strong position at Dolman's house. For the purpose of carrying tbis important post, Manchester divided his force into two columns, to assault the house at two different points ; the right to attack on the north-east side by the garden; and the left, which was somewhat the larger * November 28, 1644; also in the 'Narrative.' t Cromwell, in liis charge against Manchester, says, that the Earl would not allow his men to fall on until half -an-hour after sunset; but this differs from other accounts of the battle, whether Eoyalist or Parliamentarian, which state that Manchester made his attack not later than 4 p.m. ATTACK ON SHAW HOUSE. 171 body, to attempt it lower down at the foot of the little hill by the village of Shaw. (See the Plan.) Suddenly, under cover of an active cannonade along their whole line, a dark and terrible mass of steel-clad men moved down from behind the protecting eminence of Clay Hill. '' Compactly move the blocks of spears, ''In 'back,' and 'breast,' and steel cap bright; "And on each flank, "In eight-deep rank, "With lighted match, the musqueteers.""^' The "battle-march" of the Puritan warriors was a solemn psalm pealing from their fierce array, f The royalist guns thundered a refrain. Preserving the greatest order, the Parliamentary battalions steadily descended the steep hill- side to meet again, for the second time that day, their equally brave, and no less devoted antagonists. It was evident that the eager and excited soldiers of the Parliament, who felt that they had been too long held back, brooked no further suspense, and the foremost lines of the right column immediately advanced on the garden side of Shaw House. The Poyalists had all the advantages of position ; every accessible point being well protected in all directions, both by cannon and musquetry ; and, full of con- fidence, they received the enemy with a tremendous volley, poured in from behind the hedges of Long Lane. J Though for the moment amazed and staggered, Manchester's men withdrew not an inch; and the first shock was no sooner overcome, than they rushed boldly forward, to be again driven back. Again and again were they led on, and as often repulsed ; but, seconded by a strong body of Ludlow's cavalry, they once more fell on, and this time with some effect. The cavaliers sent forth another and telling volley from behind their breastwork on the little hill where the Water-tower § now stands ; but, nothing daunted, the Parlia- mentarians advanced, and drove out the foremost musqueteers from their cover. They now received a check ; for Sir John Brown, with the Prince of Wales's regiment, caused terrible havoc in their ranks, the Eoyalist fire being maintained with * 'Donnington Castle,' by Col. Columb, R.A., p. 157. t Clarendon's 'Hist.' iv. p. 548. X Several cannon-balls have been found in the banks of Long Lane. § The ground around the Water-tower has the appearance of having been artificially raised for defence, particularly on the eastern side of the mound To the north-east of the road to Donnington from Long Lane, also, there are evident indications of entrenchments. The ram- parts are still well defined in the gardens of Shaw House. 172 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. great coolness. Still the assailants pressed on ; pike met pike, sword clashed with sword ; the one party endeavouring to gain the hedges and entrenchments, the other resolutely opposing them. Many fell at the foot of this hillock : but not one put a foot on it, except as a prisoner. Again rein- forced with a fresh body of horse, this gallant band returned to the charge, and almost reached the garden-wall,*' while others penetrated even to the lawn in front of the house. Sir John Brown, for a time compelled to give way, prudently fell back on the reserve in the garden. Meanwhile Sir Richard Page, with his leather guns, and 400 musqueteers in the dry moat, did considerable execution.! Ludlow's cavalry recoiled, wheeled about, and retreated, followed by Sir John Brown ; and many a brave trooper fell, never more to draw sword again in cause of Parliament. :|: The foot, * There was 'formerly a sunken road in front of tliis ■wall, with a raised bank on each side. AVlien the roadway was diverted some years ago, and the present wooden fence erected, several human skeletons were met with ; and a 61b cannon-ball was found firmly imbedded in the brickwork. More recently, in the latter part of the year 1882, five human skeletons (two of which were headless), apparently those of young men, were discovered in the course of excavating the ground for the purpose of erecting new greenhouses on the north-east side of the terrace and yew-tree hedge at Shaw House to the west of the Water Tower, and just within the line of the old road above mentioned. There can be little doubt that these were the remains of soldiers who fell during the attack on the garden, above described. The tibia of a horse was found vnth a portion of the human bones. On the Lawn in front of Shaw House are four iron guns, about 5ft. 9in. long, with 8J inches bore, said to have been left by the Parliamentarians, as memorials, when the house was given up to its owner, Sir Thos. Dolman, but there is nothing in the character of these pieces of ordnance to directly establish their connection "with the time of Charles I. Several mementoes of the Ci'^dl War are joreserved at Shaw House — suits of armour, an iron cap or head x^iece, a cloak said to have been worn by Oliver Cromwell, cannon and musket balls, &c. Here are also to be seen a pair of cavalry kettle-drums reported to have been part of the spoil of the battle-field in 1644. They consist of two large copper shells or basons rounded at the bottom, 21 and 19 inches in diameter across the heads respectively, and each have trian- gular stands af&xed to them. In the absence of any marks or other distinguishing characteristics, their identification vith the time of Charles I. rests on verbal tradition only. t See Capt. Gwyinie's 'Mil. Mem.' ch. xiii. The portable leather gun was made of the toughest leather, and bound mtli metallic hoops. A strong horse could carry two of them through miry roads. The}'- could be discharged only 7 or 8 times. Col. Wemys is commonly supposed to have been the inventor; but the original inventor was Gustavus Adolphus, who employed them at the battle of Leipsic, Sept. 7, 1631. See 'MH. Mem. of Col. John Birch,' Camd. Soc, 87, 88. X Ludlow's 'Memoirs,' p. 131. ATTACK ON SHAW HOUSE. 173 however, soon rallying, advanced towards Thelwall's reserve, who brought his men boldly forward. Without waiting to return their fire, the Parliament men rushed in upon the Cavaliers and gallantly fought to the death. Even by their enemy's admission they struggled heroically ; but the odds were against them, for they were able to do little against an enemy sheltered by walls and earth- works. Thus, though twice reinforced, and bravely led forward, twice they were repulsed; and, abandoning all hope of penetrating this well defended place, they gradually retired out of fire, to Clay Hill, leaving one of Crawfurd's colours and two ''drakes" in the hands of the successful defenders of the royal stronghold.^' Simultaneously with the attack on the garden, Manchester's left column made a vigorous assault, by the village of Shaw, on the north side of the Lamborne, towards the front of Shaw-house ; but Sir George Lisle stripped to his shirt, and therefore (says ' Mercurius Aulicus ') mistaken for a witch f by the Parliamentary soldiers, burst at once, with his fiery cavalry, into the very heart of Manchester's infantry, and scattered them ''like spray before some storm-driven ship." No pause was made, — no mercy shown by the excited troopers, — the whole mass was swept up Clay Hill, J pursued by the enraged cavaliers, who hewed down the fugitives by scores. It is said that they only escaped total destruction through the devoted heroism of Ludlow's men, who sacrificed themselves by moving forward to cover the retreat. So great * The loss of these "drakes" (light field guns) was stated by the Earl of Manchester to have been the fault of Capt. Hammond, who is previously mentioned in the list of wounded at the first battle of Newbury, and as probably the Col. Eobert Hammond who was after- wards the King's gaoler at Carisbrook. Further investigation shows that this was the case. He was nex)hew to Dr. Henry Hammond, chaplain to the King, and to Col. Thomas Hammond, one of the Eegicides, and was appointed Governor of the Isle of Wight in September, 1647. After the King was beheaded, Col. Hammond was sent over to Ireland or went there with Cromwell, and died of a fever at Dublin, 24 Oct. 1654. t " At the last Newb'ry Battle, in the sight Of Majesty, he led the Foot to fight, Strip' d to his Shirt, that others might descry His Actions, and Example take thereby ; From whence the frighted Eebels gave it out, That a white Witch was seen to fly about The Royal Army scowring to and fro. Where'er the Contest did the hottest grow." ' Hist. Grand RebeU.' By Henry Ward. Vol. ii, p. 432. t Walker's 'Hist. Disc' p. 113, 174 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. was the execution that Clarendon states 500 men were left dead on one little spot of ground.^ The moon was now up. Manchester had received a rein- forcement of horse, expected earlier in the day ; and he resolved to make another and final effort. However skilful and daring the attempt, it was foiled by the pluck of the Eoyalists, who stood their ground, and again compelled their assailants to retire. It has often been a matter of surprise that Shaw House should have suffered so little, considering that a series of violent attacks were made on it by the Parliamentarians, but this seems easy of explanation. Firstly, only the eastern end of the House is turned towards Clay Hill, on the slope of which the enem3^'s guns must have been posted. Next, between the latter point and the building rises a hillock, on which the Water-tower now stands, and this very materially sheltered the house from view and injury. Thirdly, there were no heavy siege-guns brought against it, as at Donning- ton Castle. Further, it was concealed by trees, in most cases stout enough to stop shot from light field-guns, and was surrounded by high fences and a thick rampart. Thus we need not wonder that it escaped unscathed, f These imj)ortant fights, at Speen and Shaw, constituted the last great action between the two parties here. Whatever its ultimate results may have been, at first each army seems to have fancied itself worsted. The Parliamentarians had been repulsed, and had suffered severely at Shaw ; but their right wing at Speen had been completely successful. The King, on the other hand, who had been a witness of his ill fortune on the Speen side, and unaware that at Shaw the tide of war had turned in his favour, considered his position no longer tenable, and determined to act at once on the resolution he had taken in the morning, in anticipation of an unfavourable issue, namely, to retreat on Wallingford. Orders were accordingly dispatched to Prince Maurice, Lord Goring, Lord Hopton, Sir Jacob Astley, and the other commanders, to draw off their men to Snelsmore Heath. J Battalion after * Clarendon's 'Hist.' II. p. 548. t A shot -hole in a shutter in one of the eastern rooms of the House is registered by a brass plate as having been made by a bullet when the King was standing close by. Wlien this could have occurred is difficult to determine. X Snelsmore Heath formerly extended over the whole of the now- enclosed fields between Donnington Castle and the present Common. At the time of the Civil War there were one or two cottages standing between the Common and the Castle, wliich Sir John Boys burnt to prevent their being occupied by the enemy. EETREAT OF THE KING. 175 battalion began silently to quit its ground, and marcb in the direction of the rendezvous ; wbile the guns and heavy stores were conveyed by a circuitous route to Donnington Castle. Charles, at the earnest entreaty of his friends, who perceived the utter frustration of all his hopes, now thought of provid- ing for his own safety ; and, having sent for his guard, amid a troop of fugitive horsemen made good his escape to Don- nington Castle, deciding to proceed to Bath, where he might by his presence hasten the Welsh and Northern forces which his nephew Prince Eupert was then getting together for his assistance. After haK-an-hour spent in the Castle with Sir John Boys, in whose care he left his wounded, baggage, artillery, and ammunition, the King, with the young Prince of Wales, the Duke of Eichmond, the Earls of Lindsey, Berkshire, and Newport, Lord Capel, and others, and accom- panied by a guard of about 300 horse, hurried from the scene of his overthrow, and by about four o'clock in the afternoon of the next day reached Bath (having ridden over fifty miles, as Symonds says, ''sans rest"), ^' where he met Prince Eupert, and informed him of the sad disaster. Prince Maurice ably conducted the retreat of the army, and, notwithstanding the great superiority of the enemy in cavalry, he got to Wallingford by way of Compton without hindrance the next day, and then quietly went on to Oxford. The Parliamentarians, who remained on the ground all night, awoke in the morning to find the King was gone ! Waller and Manchester appear to have been entirely ignorant of each other's success or failure until the next day. Simeon Ashe says, — "The next morning, as soon as we had in the field, near the bodies both of friends and foes which lay in the field, made our addresses to God both by praise and prayer according to the present affecting providences, we march'd over the river [Lamborne] to Newbury ; and all this time we neither met with, nor heard of our friends at Speen."f The losses on both sides, in killed, wounded, and prisoners were heavy. Sir Edward Walker ;{: gives the following list of the "hurt and wounded" on the Eoyalist side: — King's Life-guard, 29 common soldiers; Prince of Wales's Eegiment, 69 common soldiers, 2 Captains, 2 Lieutenants, 1 Ensign, 1 "Sarjant;" Sir Jacob Astley's Eegiment, 16 common soldiers; Col. Bellasis' Eegiment, 25; Col. Bowles' Eegt., 23; Col. Dalton'sEegt., 22; Col. Owen's Eegt., 14; Col. Harford's * Symonds' s 'Diary,' p. 146. t 'A True Eelation,' &c. X Harl. MSS., No. 6804; 92. 176 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. Eegt., 13; Col. Dyve's Eegt., 14; Col. Blagg's 6 common soldiers: in Sir Gilbert Gerrard's ''Tertia," ''9 officers slain," 22 ''shott;" 100 '^ soldiers slain," 116 ''shott," ''41 sicke and unable to march:" in Lord Harbert's 5 "Eeadgements," 2 Captains, 1 Ensign, 45 common soldiers, "11 sicke men; my Ld. Harbert liatb taken care to send these into Bristol : " in Lord Grandison's E.egt., " 5 common soldiers, 2 sicke men, 11 men killed:" in Col. Charles Gerrard's Eegt., the Lieut.-CoL, 2 Captains, 2 Lieutenants, 9 Ensigns, 7 " Sarjants," 78 common soldiers. Col. Sands' [Sandys'] Eegt., 26 ; of Lord Elver's Eegt., . . . . ; of the Lord-General's Eegt., 74 ; Soldiers hurt and not able to march, 351; of Col. Chas. Gerrard's Eegt., 78; altogether 529, and 59 Officers hurt, total 588. It is difficult from the above account, to summarize the number of those actually killed and of those only wounded ; but the King's loss was evidently much greater than some of the Eoyalist writers represent ; for each party sought to reduce its own loss and augment that of its opponent. Sir Edward Walker, in his ' Discourses ' says there were not above 1 00 common soldiers slain ; and Clarendon follows him ; Sir Eoger Manley, a zealous champion in the Eoyal cause, goes so far as to say "5000 men were slain on the King's side;" while Whitelock, the Parliamentary writer, reduces the number to 200 slain and 300 prisoners. The following royalists are mentioned as having been killed in this engagement : — Sir William St. Leger, M.P., son and heir of Sir William St. Leger, a Privy Councillor, and Lord-President of Munster in 1629 ; Lt.-Cols. Leke, Houghton, TojDping, and Jones (killed on the little hiU where the Water tower now is at Shaw); Majors Trevellian and Knyvett ; Captains Whitting- ham, Catelyn, Wolf all, Philpot, and Mildmay (eldest son of Sir Humphi^ey Mildmay); also Mr. Barksdale, a volunteer. This loyal gentleman was a member of an old Newbury family, one of whom (Mr. Thomas Barksdale) gave an acre of land to the Parish of Speen, the rent thereof to pay for a sermon at Speen Church every Easter-Tuesday. Of the wounded were — the Earl of Brentford, shot in the head ; Sir John Grenville, Sir John Campsfield, Sir Edward Walde- grave, Lt.-Col. Page (shot in both thighs and in the arm); Major Alford, shot in the thigh; Capt. Wells, wounded severely ; fell into the hands of the enemy and died in prison, Lieut. George Hume, or Haines; and Mr. Stephen Knight, "chief clerk of the Avery" to the King. In his petition for restoration to the office, shortly after the return of Charles II., Mr. Knight pleads that he was severely wounded ROLL OF KILLED AND WOUNDED. 177 at Newbury in the last battle, and subsequently plundered of all he possessed, and that his family were turned out into the streets. That the prisoners captured by the Parliamentary Army were numerous, appears in the contemporary papers. "^ It seems that many of the persons here enumerated belonged to the neighbourhood, and their descendants still reside in the locality. Some five or six hundred " stragglers " were subse- quently taken prisoners by the Parliamentarians when they entered Newbury. Of these, the ' Weekly Account ' in the succeeding week (from Oct. 31 to Nov. 4, 1644), reports — ''The Letters from Sir William Waller confii^m the taking of a great store of arms and many prisoners since the late victory near Newbury; but most of the men, being poore country-fellows (that were forst [forced], and offered to take the covenant not to fight any more against the Parliament), they were left to their election, whether they would fight for the Parliament, or depart to their own dwellings, upon which many of them made choice of the Parliament's service." Of Lord Clevelmid^s Brigade, taken prisoners were — Lord Cleveland, Captain Philpot, f Lieut. Harper, Lieut. Eoane, Cornet Whealand, Quarterm^- Ironmonger, Quarterm^- Campion, Quartern!^- Nicholas, Mr. John Percy, and 38 Troopers of the same Brigade. Of Col. Astleifs Regiment — 1 1 officers and troopers. Of Lord Hoptonh Brigade — Capt. Elmes, Quarterm^- Simon Court, Edward Phillips, Henry Dimmock, Hugh Pope, ''Gentleman of Armes," besides divers troopers. The following were also taken prisoners — Colonel Philpot, Capt. Mildmay,! Capt. Nevet [Kynvett],J Mr. Eichard Nishton, Mr. John Curtis, Mr. Edward Archer, and " divers other Grentlemen of Armes and Peformadoes, || of these many of them are officers, the rest gentlemen;" — Mr. John Champion, Mr. Q-eorge Edmons, Mr. Henry Leonard, Mr. John Edge, Mr. John Goare, Mr. John Williams, Mr. William Bartholomew, Mr. James Lovelock, Mr. Henry Atkins, Mr. Thos. Poply, Mr. Thos. Holden, Mr. James Fant, Mr. William Dormer, Mr. Thos. Plant, Mr. John Aldred, Mr. John Petty, Mr. Michael Franklin, Mr. James Champion, Mr. John Farnaby, Mr. Pobert Hill, Mr. Henry Coard, Mr. Peter Holway, Mr. Thos. Compton, Mr. George Huntley, Mr. Eichd. Thebon, Mr. Cornelius Owen, Mr. * ' Perfect Occurrences of Parliament,' from 25 Oct. to 1st Nov. 1644. t Died of his wounds. X Both died of wounds. II " Ref ormadoes " were officers who, having lost their men, were continued on whole or half -pay. z 178 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. Thos. Greenfield, Mr. EicM. Painter, Mr. John Hobbs, Mr. Edmond Card, Mr. John Davis, Mr. Wm. Halen, Mr. Edwd. James, Mr. Joseph Hitchcocke, Mr. Eobt. Kinder, Mr. Daniel Stout, Mr. William Wood, Mr. John Hill, Mr. Wm. Banister, Mr. Eichd. Gornewell, Mr. Thomas Turke, Mr. Wm. Eiles, Mr. Peter Smith, Mr. Eichard Whiston, Mr. Daniel Dongway, and Mr. Henr}^ Yincent. The estimates of the losses on the side of the Parliament, likewise vary most considerably, Sir Eoger Manley leads off with 2503 as the number actually killed. Clarendon, comes next with 1000; and Carte gives the same. On the other hand, the Parliamentary Commissioners, in their report to the Derby-House Committee, dated from Newbury, the day after the battle, state, ''Major Skippon guesseth that the number slaine, on both sides, \j.e. of the Parliamentary forces engaged at Speen and Shaw] were between two and three hundred " Little reliance can be placed on these statements, which were made for party purposes. The average of these figures would give about 1000, which is probably a fair calculation. Very few names of Parliamentary Officers who fell in this battle have been handed down to us. Col. G-awler, Lt.-Col. White, Captains Willet, Talbot, and Charles D'Oyle}^, of the Earl of Essex's Life-Gruards, were killed at Speen (the latter, it is said, by the hand of Sir Humphrey Benett); and Cols. Norton, Berkeley, Lloyd, and Lieut. Greorge Haines, are mentioned as wounded. In an original letter, containing a brief account of this battle, from Col. Norton to his friend Eichard Major of Hursley, the Colonel says — ''We killed some men of note, and lost some, amongst w^^ was Lieut. -Col. Knight, sonne to John Knight, who was to me much lamented by my L*^- Man[che]ster and many others, and died w*'^ y® repu- tac'on of as gallant a man as any in all y® army and as much beloved ; truly I am sorry for himself e, and not lesse for poor John Knight's sake ; but as he lived to be a good christian soe he died like a good souldier. Many we had wounded ; amongst y^ number I receaved a faier admonition (by musquet-shott in my legge) for medling where I had noe charge, but I thanke God, my bone was to hard for ye buUett, and I hope I shall be upon both legges againe ere it be long. I could not help it; for I thought there was need when I engaged myself e to lead up Col. Ludlowe's Eegiment, his horse having broken his bridle, soe y* he was faine to quit." [Here the remaining part of the sentence, probably with some others, is lost, the paper having failed at the fold.] ROLL OF KILLED AND WOUNDED. 179 Endorsed:— ''Coll. Norton, 22 Octob., 1644. Newbery battaile." (Major^' Letters and Pa|)ers, British Museum.) Sir Wm. AValler, it seoms, had a narrow escape in this eng'agenient. To this he thus refers in his note-book, f in which he was in the habit of making daily jottings : — ''At the second Newbury fight, when I fell on with my troopes by way of Speene Field and were there mingled with the enemy, I had a great deliv'rance, for one of the adverse party coming behind me, and being ready to fire his pistoll in my reines, in that instant one of my life-guard killed him, or otherwise in all probability he would have killed me. God, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of Battle ! The AngeU of the Lord encampeth round about them that feare his worde, and delivereth them." The greater number of the slain found a grave near where they fell, while many of those who died of their wounds in the town of Newbury were buried in St. Nicholas' church- yard. The Churchwarden's accounts from 23 Aug., 1644 to 20 Sept., 1645, containing the following list of payments in connection with these interments : — Given at Vestry, 20 Sept. 1645. Account passed by WiQiam Paid for a shroud for a Soldier, carrying him to Church Carrying Soldier and cleaning the Church Carrying Soldier and making a great grave Carrying a Soldier to Burying . Shroud for a Soldier Carrying and Burying 3 Soldiers Coffin for a Lieutenant For Carrying, Burying Soldier For Carrying another Soldier to Burying Burpng 2 Soldiers more Burying 6 Soldiers more . . Shrouds for Soldiers . . Carrying a Soldier and Burying Digging Graves for Soldiers Burying 3 Soldiers more . . Ditto 4 ditto Digging Graves Burying 2 Soldiers . . Ditto 2 ditto . . Burying a Soldier Digging 19 Graves and cleaning the Church Burying a Soldier Ditto ditto Nash, Mayor 8 5 4 1 4 3 4 3 7 1 2 1 2 5 6 3 6 1 4 4 6 6 6 2 2 3 5 3 1 6 4 1 6 1 6 * Dorothy, daughter of Mr. Eichard Major, married Eichard Crom- well, the Protector's eldest son. Wlien the old house at Hursley was pulled down some time in the last century, a seal was found, supposed by the artist Vertue, who saw it, to have been the identical seal of the Commonwealth, which the Protector took from the Parliament. t Sir W. Waller's 'EecoU.,' C. 45 «; Brit. Mus. 180 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. CHAPTER IX. MILITAEY MOVEMENTS AETEP. THE BATTLE. Heavy as the combined losses were, they did not prevent the speedy resumption of hostihties. Though the battle had been somewhat indecisive, inasmuch as the King's army had escaped by way of Donnington to Oxford, and the King himself to Bath, Manchester soon took steps to reap the full fruits of the battle, which he claimed as a victory. Early on Monday morning the 28th October, when the Parliamentarians found that the King was really gone, a Council of War was called at Speen. It is asserted that Cromwell, on that occasion, not doubting as to the state in which affairs stood, repeatedly recjuested leave to push on with his cavalry and overtake the retreating royalists ; but he was peremptorily restrained by the General- in-chief ; and, as Cromwell brought a charge to this effect against Manchester in the House of Commons, the statement is probably true. Waller also wr(^te from Newbury, on the 30th of October, to the Derby-House Committee, advising immediate action, ' ' after the great trouble with which the three armies were got together ; and if ever victory could be followed with advantage this is one," when after much time had been wasted in an angry discussion, Manchester reluctantly consented that Waller, Cromwell, and Hesilrige, with the horse (about 6000 strong) which had been engaged on the Speen side of the battle, should march in pursuit. With this force the Parliamentary Grenerals reached Blew- bury, without firing a shot ; and then finding that the enemy had got clear over the river at Wallingford many hours before, it was judged both hazardous and useless to pursue further ; and the troops were accordingly quartered in Blewbury, Hagborne, Chilton, Harwell, and the neigh- bouring villages. Meanwhile a letter having been sent by Manchester from Newbury, desiring the return of the force, the three Generals came back to Newbury, where they had an interview with the Earl. They then pressed earnestly to have the whole army marched speedily into quarters beyond Oxford (about Witney, Burford, and Woodstock), where the King's troops had already begun to rally. That being denied, they requested that two or three thousand of the foot then quartered in Newbury should march to join the horse at Blewbury. Manchester could not however be persuaded to stir until the Saturday following (November 2nd), on which day he started with a portion of his infantry, and MOVEMENTS AFTER THE BATTLE. 181 in two days managed to get as far as Harwell, which same distance, Cromwell says, the Earl on his return ''dispatcht in one." Arriving at Harwell, Manchester refused to pro- ceed further until he had received instructions from the Committee in London ; his excuse being the badness of the roads and other impediments. The two commissioners, Lord Warriston and Mr. Crew, proceeded from Harwell to London to represent matters in person to the Derby-house Committee : but on Tuesday (November 5th), the day before the directions of the Committee were received, Manchester appointed a rendezvous for the next morning on Compton Downs, four or five miles back towards Newbury. The whole body of horse under Cromwell on Tuesday night lay on Chilton plain, and the following day moved to Compton, and joined Manchester, who had by this time, much to his satisfaction, received orders from London not to divide his army, but to march back to Newbury and endeavour to take Donnington Castle. Siege-pieces and ammunition were dispatched to him for that purpose. Consequently the entire force retraced their steps, reaching Newbury on the 7th of November. From Cromwell's statement to the Commons, it appears that he commended these Berkshire Downs as a suitable position **for lying in the King's way" with his returning army, and indeed this locality narrowly escaped being the scene of a bloody conflict between the two armies ; for no sooner had Cromwell quitted Chilton Plain, than the royal forces took up their quarters on the same spot on the Downs where their enemies had encamped the preceding day. But as this is somewhat anticipating the course of events, it will be necessary to return to the proceedings of the King after his retreat to Bath. When the King met Eupert at Bath, the Prince had with him about 400 horse and 600 foot, making, with the King's own troop and followers, about 1300 men. With this strength Charles and his nephew marched out of Bath on Wednesday, 30th of October, and quartered that night at Sherston near Malmesbury ; next day they reached Ciren- cester, where the King received a letter from Sir Jacob Astley (created Baron Astley of Peading a few days after, at Oxford), informing him of the good condition of his army, with advice to his Majesty to advance speedily, and, with the additional forces then at his command, to march again to Newbury, disengage his cannon, and offer the enemy battle. From Cirencester the King marched to Burford, and by the way he met the Earl of Northampton, with those regiments which had relieved Banbury ; and he also received 182 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. the intelligence that General Gerard and Sir Marmaduke Langdale, with a force of 4000 horse and foot, would encamp that night at Stow-on-the-Wold. Whereupon, to give more ease to the troops, and to make preparations for his march to Newbury, the King left his force at Burford, and hastened with his guards and attendants, to Oxford, which he entered on the 1st of November, being received with great joy and acclamation, after his long absence of five months, during which time he had passed through and overcome many difficulties. As soon as the King came to Christ-Church, Oxford, he conferred the dignity of Knighthood on Colonel Gage, who in his Majesty's absence had done well both in defence of that city, and in the relief of Basing and Banbury. Charles also gratefully thanked them embers of his Council, who had managed his affairs since his departure. This having been done, the succeeding days were employed in making pre- parations to take the field; a new train of artillery was expeditiously formed, and the whole army put into good serviceable condition. CHAPTER X. EENEWED ATTACK ON DONNINGTON CASTLE, AND EELIEF OF THE GAEEISON. Meanwhile, between the action on the 27th October and the King's return to Oxford, the Parliament's forces entered Newbury; and, with a strong body of horse and foot, surrounded Donnington Castle. They again summoned the indomitable Boys to surrender, assuring him this time, that if he did not instantly comply, they would not leave one stone upon another. "If so, I am not bound to repair it," was the Governor's scornful reply. Being urged a second and a third time, with the offer that he should be permitted to march out with all the arms, ammunition, and stores deposited in the Castle, — "Carry away," he said, "the Castle walls themselves, if you can; but, with God's help, I am resolved to keep the ground they stand on, till I have orders from the King, my master, to quit it, or will die upon the spot." An assault was consequently determined on, but the officer who led the storming party having fallen at their head, and great differences prevailing among the Generals, nothing further was at that time done. The Eoyalist journal, 'Mercurius Aulicus,' for Sunday, Nov. 17, 1644, gives the following account of some affairs as then reported; — "The EENEWED ATTACK ON DONNINGTON CASTLE. 183 Eebells sped so ill at downright fighting that they now practise a new way of murther, for we are certainly advised from Donnington Castle, that when the Eebells close besieged the place, they hp^ed a souldier to poyson their Well on the north side of the Castle, which lay without the workes, between the Eebell's trenches and the workes. This souldier having informed the rebells that the AVell was most necessary for the support of that garrison received his twenty shillings (for that was all this poor Eebell demanded), and in the night time conveyed the poyson down the Well, but next morning the commander (toucht it seems with the horror of the fact) sent a Drum with a letter to Sir John Boys to give notice what was done. The Grovernor returned thanks to their Commander, and at first fit opportunity drew 40 mus- queteers out of the Castle, and in the face of the rebells cleaned the Well, taking out the bag of poyson, and digging it deeper. After which time we kept the Well in despight of the Rebells, and to make tryall whether or no the Well was truely poysoned, we tryed the experiment upon a Horse, which having drunk of it, swell' d and dyed within 24 hours." A Well in the position indicated has recently been discovered on the north-west side of the Castle, about 400 yards from the buildings. By the nature of the ground it is screened from the observation of an enemy posted on Snelsmore Common ; so that the garrison could obtain water thence without exposure or difiiculty. At this time the Earl of Brentford, who had been wounded on the 27th, sought temporary shelter in the Castle, where his Lady attended him; and the Parliamentarians, hearing he was there, sent Col. Hurry to his old general, with large offers if he would give up the place, or induce Boys to do so, — a proposal rejected with indignation. On the 30th Oct., three days after the battle. Lord Brentford, having somewhat recovered from his wounds, obtained a guide to direct him by cross-roads to Bath, where he was anxious to rejoin the KJing and inform him of the safe retreat of the army to Walling- ford. But he was pursued by a party of the enemy's horse, led by Col. Birch, and his Lady was taken prisoner. The general, however, managed to escape, owing as Skippon in his dispatch states, to one of their part}^ unadvisedly sounding a trumpet near where he was reposing himself.* * This episode is related in an interesting document printed by the Camden Society, entitled 'A Military Memoir of Col. John Birch.' That j)ortion referring to the capture of Lady Brentford, is given in the Appendix. 184 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. On Wednesday, tlie 6tli of November, the royal army was drawn out on Bullington Green, near Oxford, and inspected by the King, who found he had a force of 6000 foot and 5000 horse, with which to reheve Donnington Castle, and recover his ordnance and baggage that had been left there after the action of the 27th October. Prince Rupert con- sented without reluctance to supersede Lord Brentford as Commander of the King's forces ; whilst the old General was solaced with the honorary post of Lord-Chamberlain to the Prince of Wales. The following officers were amongst those who accompanied the King's army in this expedition : — Prince Pupert, Prince Maurice, the Earl of Northampton, Lord AVentworth, Lord Gerard, Lord Ilopton, Sir Marmaduke Langdale, Sir Hum- phrey Benett, Sir Thomas Aston, Sir William Blakiston, Sir Henry Gage, Col. Blagge, governor of Wallingford, Col. Tucker, Col. Keck, Col. NevHle. On Thursday, Charles marched with his troops to Walling- ford, and the day following, Friday 8th November, the army encamped on Ilsley Downs, while the King quartered with Bishop Goodman at West Ilsley Pectory."^ The march was resumed on Saturday morning towards Newbury; and the succeeding events of the day are thus stated in detail by Sir Edward Walker :f — ''On Saturday our army marched in battalia, expecting some opposition. The van was led by his Highness Prince Pupert and General Gerrard. In this order we marched, and got possession of the heath on the backside of Dennington Castle, J from which a small force of the rebels might have kept us, the * Dr. Godfrey Goodman then held the Eectory of West Ilsley, in commendam, with the See of Gloucester, of which he was deprived by Archbishop Laud in 1640 for refusing to subscribe to the Canons ; but was restored upon his submission. He was sequestrated by the Com- mittee of Plundered Ministers, for his tithes of West Ilsley. In a petition to the Protector Cromwell, the Bishop says that Ms "great losses were such as he thinks no man suffered more," and complains that a Mr. Humphrey Newbery, who was appointed by the Committee to supply his place at West Ilsley, came there with a body of soldiers and forcibly took possession of his Living and property. Dr. Goodman ultimately became a Roman Catholic, and died in that faith Jan. 19, 1655, and was buried near the Font in St. Margaret's Church, West- minster. He is said to have been concerned in the noble design of bringing the New River Water into London. The old Rectory-house at West Ilsley, an interesting Elizabethan building, was taken down about 35 years since. t 'Hist. Discourses,' pp. 118, 119. X Snelsmore Common. The King's route was by Chieveley and North-heath. EENEWED ATTACK ON DONNINGTON CASTLE. 185 entrance into it being steep and the way very narrow,"^' and tlien we must have gone aboiit and fallen in by way of Speene.f On that heath the army was drawn up about twelve of the clock, and every one prepared to fight. Thence in good order we marched by Bennington Castle, passing the river at a mill, and two fords below it I without any opposi- tion, and thence drew into the large field between Speene and Newber}^, where the army was set in order. The rebels in the interim drew a great body of horse and foot into the other field towards Shaw, having made breastworks and batteries on the backside of Newbery towards both these fields, § resolving to keep the town, which was the reason they gave us so easie a passage to the heath behind Benning- ton. About three in the afternoon we advanced within reach of their cannon, which they discharged amongst us without doing any hurt. Then a body of our horse charged another of theirs in the lower field || and routed them, pursuing them almost to their breastworks; when the rebel musquetiers placed in the lane between the two fields ^ gave fire on our horse and caused them to retreat (though without disorder). In the interim we could discover a great body of their horse on the hill on the south side of Newbury '^'^' almost at a stand whether to come down or retire. The armys being now on the point of being engaged, His Majesty advised with his * Bussock Hill. t Through "Wiiiterbonrne. X Donnington Mill. The fords over the Mill-stream and the Lam- borne. This mill was probably a dependency of the Castle in mediaeval times. § These breastworks and batteries were in Newbury Marsh, then open to the fields above-described, at the back of Speenhamland. The remains of the earthworks still existing are shown on the Plan. They were but " sorry works" as Skippon describes them. In levelling portions of the Marsh for the purpose of planting trees, and improving the roadways, in March, 1883, a detached human skull and a number of bones were discovered in the soil. A small cannon shot, lib in weight, of the usual 17th century type, was likewise dug out at a depth of 4 feet below the surface. Cannon balls of a large size have also been found in other parts of the ground. II The "lower field " is that nearest to Shaw Avenue. II The " lane between the two fields^ was the old road to Oxford, which followed about the same line as the modern highway from Newbury. ** The body of horse seen on the hill on the south side of Newbury was that under Cromwell, in the meadows below the Wash, on the left of the Wash Road from the town. Manchester accuses Cromwell of not coming up with this body of cavalry until after the King had marched away ; but Cromwell retorts that Manchester was ' ' most ready to finde the danger or infeisibility of drawing out to interpose." 2 A 186 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBUEY. Council what was fittest to be done, wlio considering that he had ah-eady effected what he came for thither, which was to reheve Dennington (provisions being put in in the interim) that it was in his power to draw off his ordnance and ammunition thence ; and that he had sufficiently regained the opinion and honour of the day, by passing his army over the river in the face of theirs, and offering them battel if they durst draw out, and withal considering how dangerous it might prove to force them to fight, having the advantages of breastworks and batteries and a town at their backs, it was unanimously concluded that we should draw off and attempt them no further. And to let them know that we did it not out of any apprehension. Prince Rupert sent a Trumpet [a "Drum" or ''Trumpet" was equivalent to a flag of truce], to give them notice of our intentions, so that, if it had been their will, they might have fallen on our rear. But they suffered us quietly to pass with drums beating and trumpets sounding the same ways we came over the river. His Majesty lay that night in Dennington Castle, and all the army about him. In this action we lost one Captain of horse ^* and about fourteen Foot slain by their cannon in the retreat ; and I believe the rebels lost twice that number." Some traces of this skirmish were discovered in the year 1869, when two skeletons were found in a garden which occupies part of the site of the old Pelican Inn at Speen- hamland. The skeletons were both perfect, and lay side by side, one on its back and the other on its face, and both in the direction east and west, about two-and-a-half feet below the surface. A piece of clothing, like a soldier's coat-trim- ming, some brass buttons, portions of accoutrements, and a pike-head, were found near the remains ; also a gold orna- ment, somewhat like a brooch or fastening, a spur, the bone of a horse, and the bowl of a 17th-century tobacco-pipe. Scores of such pipes have been picked uj) in the neighbouring fields. There is little doubt that these were two troopers, most probably officers, "brothers in arms," who fell in the above mentioned skirmish, which took place over this very ground on Nov. 9th, 1644. Some fifty years ago a skeleton, having a large gash in the skull, was discovered, with a sword by its side, not far from the same spot ; and more recently another skeleton was exhumed in the rear of the adjoining premises now used as a Brewery. The remains of three bodies, together with some cannon balls were also met with in digging gravel near the Castle-houses on Speen Hill. * Capt. Fitzmaurice, of the Prince of Wales' regiment. MILITARY PLAK, Shm'iiii t/ir /msiUm «l'lh<- llnvl Army i/i tfir lii'lils hi'lvmn SPEEN AND N EWBU RY, on Saturday; Noveiubei" 9? lO^'K M*«i Iht' hiny rdif-vnt Dtimingi/m Castle. Vrom iht: Oi-ifinuil hy SIR BERNARD DE GOMME, Aild.M..S..U\310. fo. 60. T" "Hi ^ ^ J^ o^ j3^/,/. ^J*"/-^ A I.^ RENEWED ATTACK ON DONNINGTON CASTLE. 187 The position of the King's army in the '' large field between Speene and Newbery," referred to by Sir Edward Walker, and quoted on the preceding page, as being the place '^ where the King's army was set in order" is indicated with much exactness on a contemporary military plan showing the forces in the field. This interesting addition to the subject has been obtained from the British Museum,^' since the publication of the first edition of this work, and a copy of the plan is inserted in the present volume. The ground denoted as that occupied by the King's battalions, is in strict agreement with the written description which has been given, but it will be seen from the title on the plan that the draughtsman (stated on the endorsement at the back of the drawing to be Sir Bernard de Gromme) has written the date of the relief of Donnington Castle as being in October 1644, whereas it was on the following 9th of November. This plan appears to have been drawn from memory, and is not strictly accurate in some respects. The Church at Newbury is shown as being on the east side of the Bridge instead of the west, and the river Lamborne is denoted as the " Kennet Fluvius." The latter river is that crossed by the Bridge at Newbury. Sir Bernard de Gromme or de Gomez, to whom we are indebted for this plan, accompanied Prince Eupert to England in 1642, as a military engineer, and is mentioned in a petition for the ofiice of Surveyor Gleneral of Fortifications, dated Dec. 1660, as having served the late King (Charles I.), as engineer and qaartermaster-general, of which place he had a grant, dated June 30. 1645, and confirmed by Charles II. at Breda, June 15, 1649. In March, 1661, he obtained a grant of the office of Engineer of all the King's Castles, &c. in England and Wales, the fee being fixed at 13s. 4d. a day, with order that he keep an exact account of all engines to be made by him, and of all disbursements of money. [Cal. State Papers, Domestic, Car. II., 1660-1.] In the third volume of Pej^ys's Diary, p. 90, sixth edit., there is a note about Sir B. de Gomme as being born at Lille in 1620, and having died in 1685, his place of burial being within the Tower of London. A correspondent of a London Diurnal f communicates the following intelligence from the Parliamentary army, in con- nection with the return of the King to Donnington Castle : — ''Friday, Nov. 8. — This day the King designed a partie of 6 or 7000 horse and foot to relieve Dennington Castle and to * Add. MS, 1 6, 370. A collection of coloured Plans of Fortifications, etc., temp Car. I. and II. t 'Perfect Passages of each Daye's Proceedings in Parliament,' Nov. 6 to Nov. 13,,16M. RENEWED ATTACK ON DONNINGTON CASTLE. 187 The position of the King's army in the ''large field between Speene and Newbery," referred to by Sir Edward Walker, and quoted on the preceding page, as being the place ''where the King's army was set in order" is indicated with much exactness on a contemporary military plan showing the forces in the field. This interesting addition to the subject has been obtained from the British Museum,^' since the publication of the first edition of this work, and a copy of the plan is inserted in the present volume. The ground denoted as that occupied by the King's battalions, is in strict agreement with the written description which has been given, but it will be seen from the title on the i)lan that the draughtsman (stated on the endorsement at the back of the drawing to be Sir Bernard de Gomme) has written the date of the relief of Donnington Castle as being in October 1644, whereas it was on the following 9th of November. This plan ap23ears to have been drawn from memory, and is not strictly accurate in some respects. The Church at Newbury is shown as being on the east side of the Bridge instead of the west, and the river Lamborne is denoted as the " Kennet Fluvius." The latter river is that crossed by the Bridge at Newbury. Sir Bernard cle Gromme or de Gromez, to whom we are indebted for this plan, accompanied Prince Eupert to England in 1 642, as a military engineer, and is mentioned in a petition for the office of Surveyor General of Fortifications, dated Dec. 1660, as having served the late King (Charles I.), as engineer and qaartermaster-general, of which place he had a grant, dated June 30. 1645, and confirmed by Charles II. at Breda, June 15, 1649. In March, 1661, he obtained a grant of the office of Engineer of all the King's Castles, &c. in England and Wales, the fee being fixed at 13s. 4d. a day, with order that he keep an exact account of all engines to be made by him, and of all disbursements of money. [Cal. State Papers, Domestic, Car. IL, 1660-1.] In the third volume of Pepys's Diary, p. 90, sixth edit., there is a note about Sir B. de Gomme as being born at LiUe in 1620, and having died in 1685, his place of burial being within the Tower of London. A correspondent of a London Diurnal f communicates the following intelligence from the Parliamentary army, in con- nection with the return of the King to Donnington Castle : — "Friday, Nov. 8. — This day the King designed a partie of 6 or 7000 horse and foot to relieve Dennington Castle and to * Add. MS, 16, 370. A collection of coloured Plans of Fortifications, etc., temp Car. I. and II. t 'Perfect Passages of each Daye's Proceedings in Parliament,' Nov. 6 to Nov. 13,.1644. 188 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. fetcli away snch. things out of the Castle as were most materiall, vizt. — 1. The King's Crown, which His Majesty wore on some high clayes, and had carried and brought back from Exeter. 2. The Great Seale, and other Seales which the Lord- keeper had left also in the said Castle. 3. The King's writings and divers AVrits of great conse- quence, which were also carried in thither. 4. Divers Jewells, much gould, silver, and other trea- sure, which was also in the said Castle. 5. That they should endeavour to bring away what artillery and ammunition they could. 6. To carry relief with them to the Castle. ''This party was at Wallingford, from whence they were to march to Bennington, and the Castle of Dennington doth so command all the fields between the Castle and Newberj^, that it is not safe for our army to march out there ; yet some guards of horse were still out and the enemy from the Castle play'd this day very fast, many cannon-bullets falling in Newbery, ''Saturday, Nov. 9. — This day there came intelligence that the night before the enemy in Dennington Castle had not only made shot with their cannon gainst Newbery, but made many flourishes, and at night made a great fire at the top of the Castle, so that the Earl of Manchester, Sir Wm. AValler, Lt.-Genl. Cromwell, and Sir William Balfour (to ^hom the charge of the armies for the present is committed) began to suspect the enemy coming that way, and so special care was taken for securing our armies in their quarters that night, lest the enemy should come on a sudden, that therefore their outguards should be ready, which was performed with a great deal of paines, care, and discretion, but more especially to oppose the enemy between Kingsclere and Dennington Castle, if they came, which was their direct way from Wallingford, and no other was probable. "Tuesday, Nov. 12. — Besides that spoken of in the instruc- tions to the King's forces, there was left in Dennington Castle about 18 small pieces of artillery carried into the Castle, besides 5 or 6 great pieces of ordnance that were planted on the works below, and good store of ammunition, some say 60 cart-loads, besides 30 cart-loads they took witii them, what of this was carried away they will not tell us. But about 5 o'clock in the afternoon they retreated with what they had taken out of the Castle, and what they brought in is best known to themselves, but what the}' did was in a short time, and the great pieces lie still upon their works." RELIEF OF THE GARRISON. 189 To resume our narrative, on Sunday morning, the lOtL. of November, the King's troops were drawn up in marching order on the heath adjoining Donnington Castle, with so many of the guns which had been left with the garrison after the retreat on the 27th October, as they could conveniently take with them, attached to their train. All being in readi- ness, the King bade farewell to the gallant governor Sir John Boys, and looked, it may be imagined, with tearful eye on the shot-wrecked walls of Donnington, which had been main- tained in his cause with such fidelity, and which was to himself so full of stirring memories of disaster and defeat, but never of dishonour. The trumpets gave a parting blast, answered by a hearty cheer from Boys' merry men on the Castle walls, as the King, accompanied by Prince Rupert and his retinue, led the vanguard over the heath. Soon, however, the sound of drums and trumpets died away, and the little company of heroes at the Castle were once more left alone. From Snelsmore Heath the army marched to Winter- bourne, •'•' where the troops were halted, it is said, to give thanks to God for their great success; the King, Prince Pupert, and the chief officers of his staff, attending divine service in the parish church. The route was then by Boxford and Shefford to Lamborne ; and here the King took up his residence with Mr. Garrard ; f the main body of the foot being quartered in the town, and the horse at Wantage and the intermediate villages. This is referred to in the following terms by a Parliamentary scout: — ''Monday, 11 November 1644. The last night the King's head-quarters were at Wantage and Lamborne ; and a part of the horse took off all the provision they could meet as they went along by Peese- moure and other villages, and intended to quarter this night * The Winterbonrne estate .at tliat time belonged to the Head family, one of whom was Lord Falkland's host at Newbury. t The principal residence of the Berkshire Garrards was at Kingwood, about one mile from Lamborne, on the road to Marlborough by way of Ramsbury, and occupied a beautiful position on an eminence over- looking the neighbouring Valley. The old house (where a room in the east wing was long shown as "The King's Chamber ") was taken down many years ago. The Mansion must have been of considerable extent, judging from traces of the foundations ; and the remaining stabling attests to its having been of the Elizabethan character. The line of the avenue, leading from the high-road, and crossing the park, is still defined by a few trees here and there ; and many other vestiges of former importance can be discerned. Queen Henrietta Maria was also at Kingwood, April 18th, 1644, on her journey from Oxford to Exeter. She had taken a farewell of the King a few days previously, never to see his face again. There are several memorials of the Garrards in Lamborne Church. Their arms were azure, a chevron engrailed ermine. 190 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. at Auburn and Ramsbury; and wee heare tliey intend to relieve Basing. That all the foot wbich. lay at Lamborne marcht away this raorning towards Auborne, where they had a rendezvous, and intended to quarter there that night, but there came a sudden allarm that the Parliament horse were coming after them, that they gave a command that they should march to Marlborough, and in the afternoone they march'd out of Wantage, having 2500 horse and many stragling foot. They report that a party of their foot was to winter at Marlborough, the rest to go to Winchester. The King is reported this night to bee at the army againe."^* It is time, however, to leave the King's army, and return to the opposite camp. The Parliamentary Grenerals, upon the intelligence that the King was quietly marching away from Donnington Castle, rode to the top of Clay Hill, ''to looke upj^on the departing enemy," and then called the inevitable Council of War, which resulted in the customary wrangle, and in the usual inaction. But one of their officers, whose name is not re- corded, determined to have one slash at the King before he was out of their reach ; and, having got a few horse together, started in pursuit. His advance, however, having been noticed by Pupert, the Prince unobserved placed a body of his cavalrj^ in a barn by the road-side, and let the pursuers pass ; but the moment they reached the spot, the ambushed troopers came out from their hiding place and took the Par- liament men ''front and rear," so that, as Symonds records, 15 of them were killed and more taken prisoners. This was the only effort made to oppose or harass the King's march. From Lamborne, the Lords Capel, Hopton, and Culpej)per, with other officers, were sent on to Marlborough to provide quarters for the army, and to levy contributions on the inha- bitants of the district for the support of the King's forces. It was a matter of surprise to the Poyalists that the enemy with a powerful artillery and a strong body of cavalry, did not force on an engagement, but, on the contrarj^ allowed the King's troops, after relieving Donnington Castle, to advance within gunshot of the town, which was strengthened with numerous field-works, and afforded every requisite security in case of a repulse. But Manchester was im- moveable, and appears to have formed an intractable resolution of remaining inactive, which no argument nor remonstrance could influence or disturb. Writing from Newbury on the 10th of November to the * Sir Samuel Luke's Letter-book; Egerton MSS. FURTHER PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWO ARMIES. 191 Committee at Derby House, the three Parliamentary com- manders, Manchester, AValler, and Balfour, gave the following reasons for deciding against fighting. ''It was impossible for us to hinder the King from takeing his traine out of the Castle, and to keepe the towne of Newberry, he comeing with soe considerable an army ; for had we drawne up between the Castle and the King : the King had wheeled about and possessed the towne. Then the weather and want would have driven us to a retreat. The King would not only have his traine, but the towne as a quarter and Basing relieved, and that had beene ye best. Wee heare the last night he drew out some of his traine, and sent it to Wallingford ; this morning early wee found him drawne up in battalia, with horse and foote, about a mile from the Castle. We drew out, intending to have falne upon the King's army. But con- sidering his many advantages of ground, and the weather falling bad, following might breake our army; ye ofiicers of ye foote complaining of lessening of their foote, and many hundreds of our horses being already dead, and the living very weake, and many of the troopers run from their colours. And being assured that upon our quitting Newberry, the enemy would forthwith take it, wee thought it fittest to returne to Newbury, where wee now are, watching the King's motions, and waiting your Lordships' further orders." "^^ Cromwell offers his own explanation of the matter in the following deposition : — f " That the king's armie marching from Dunnington Castle and being drawen up on Winterborne heath, the army be- longing to the Parlement drew out of the towne of Newberry and Newberry feild into Shawfeild about a mile from the king's army, and the Earle of Manchester with diverse of the cheif e officers having viewed the same did a little after repayre into a cottage in or neere the said feild to consult what to doe, and amongst other debates it was urged by this examinante that if wee shoidd beate the king's army it would hinder his afPayres in France and might prevent the coming of French forces into this kingdome, which wee heard, was indeavoured ; to which his lordshippe gave answer that he did assure them, meaning the councell of warre then present, there was noe such thing as any forces to be brought from France, which undertaking of his lordshippe this examinante wondered at, consideringe what hee, this examinante had heard concerning endeavours of that nature, and this examinante still pressing * Letter Book, Derby-Ho. Com. Public Record Office, t State Papers, Domestic Series, Public Record Office. 192 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBUEY. towards engagement Ms lordsliippe urged further that hee was against fighting, giving this as his reason and saying that if wee should beate the king never soe often, yet he would be king still and his posterity ; but if hee should beate us but once, we must be hanged, and our posterity undone, or words to that effect ; to which this examinante replyed that, if this principle was true, it condemned all our former fighting as foolish, and was an argument against fighting for the future, and a ground for making a peace how dishonour- able soever. " Oliver Cromwell." The following extract from a letter, dated Newbury, 15th November, from the general officers, Manchester, Waller, Balfour, and Skippon, to the Derby-House Committee, is descrijitive of the state of the Parliamentary army at this time, and shows how little able tlie people of Newbury and the neighbourhood were to bear further demands upon them : — ' ' The Horse are very unable for marching or watching, having been for a long time tired out with hard duty in such extremeatie of weather as hath been seldom seen, soe that if much more be required at their hands you will cjuickly see your cavalry ruined without fighting. The foote are not in better case, besides the lessening of their numbers through cold and soe much duty ; wee finde wee have to encrease soe much upon them that wee cannot in duty conceale it from you, nor indeed with that christian consideration which we owe to them, whose extreame sufferings wee dayly looke upon, not, without a little sorrow. The places we are in not affording food or covering for them ; nor is the condition of the people lesse to be pittied, who both in our horse and foote quarters are soe exhaust, that they have soe little left for themselves that wee may rightly feare a famine will fall upon them." On Tuesday, 12th November, which turned out (says Symonds) ''a miserable wett windy day," the King's army moved on from Lamborne to Marlborough, Charles quartering in the house of Lord Seymour^' at the Castle. The army was encamped on the Downs at Fyfield, about two miles distant. * Francis, Lord Seymour, was brother to the Marquis of Hertford, afterwards Duke of Somerset. It was this Lord Seymour who built the house at Marlborough, known iu later times as the "Castle Inn," and which subsequently constituted the nucleus of the present famous School -house. The plans and elevations of this house were furnished by Inigo Jones, who was of the same political party as the Seymours, and then at the height of his fame as an architect. Ramsbury Manor- house is also said to have been built from designs by Inigo Jones ; but this was the work of his pupil and ncpliew John Webb. The King quartered at Ramsbury Manor in April, 1644 ; where also Cromwell visited Lord Pembroke 12 July, 1649. FURTHER PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWO ARMIES. 193 Cliarles remained five clays at Marlborough, during which, time he personally superintended the fortifications of the place ; and he found that the fierce threats of his ofiicers of the Commisariat department had so strongly impressed the terrified inhabitants of the district, that not only were the wants of the troops amply provided for, but a sufiicient quantity of food and forage was left to supply some of his necessitous garrisons. The greater part of the hay and corn which the neighbourhood had just harvested was sent off, with a body of cavalry, to Worcester; and arrangements were made for re-victualling the garrisons at Donnington Castle and Basing. The following warrant will show the manner in which these sup]3lies were procured : — ' ' To the High Constables of Ramsbury Hmid. and to each of them : "These are in His Majestie's name to command you or either of you to charge, provide, and send in, out of your Hundred to my quarters at Andrew Goddard's House at Ogborne St. Andrew, near Marlbury, for the use of his Majestie, two and twenty hundred weight of bread, twelve hundred weight of cheese, three fat Beefs, tenn fatt Muttons, fower dosens of poultrie, forty bushells of oates, twenty bushells of beanns and pease, also you are straitly charg'd to bring in eight able and sufficient Teems with Carts for His Majestie's necessary service. Charging you and every one of you and eyery petty constable in your hundred not to presume the least neglect in the due and speedy execution hereof in every particular, and that all the said provisions and carts be brought in by three o'clock in the afternoone next Sunday, as you tender the good of His Majestie's service, your owiie persons and estates. Given under my hand this 14th day of Novem- ber, 1644. Wm. Morgan, Commissary. ' ' You or either of you are required to be there present, with a return of the names of those who shall refuse to perform what is charged upon them." * Another warrant, dated at IMarlborough, empowers the officers to seize all such "Physick and Chirurgery " in that town as shall be necessary for the use of the army, the owners to be paid out of the contributions from the district. At a Council of War held at Marlborough on Saturday, the 16th November, it was decided that the relief -party to be sent to Basing should consist of 1000 horse, each troo23er carrying before him a bag of corn or other provisions, and should march so as to reach there by a given time (communicated to the garrison), then each should throw down his sack, and make good his retreat as best he could. To effect this design, Hungerford was thought the most fitting place in which to * Sir E. Walker's papers, Harl. MSS., 6802; 295. Many other interesting papers relating to the doings of the King's army at Marlborough will be found in the same collection. 2 B 194 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. quarter the army, and obtain supplies for the enterprise. Its conduct was entrusted to Sir Henr}^ Gage, who had had such good success on a former occasion. Accordingly the advanced portion of the troops marched back to Huugerford, where they arrived the same evening, the King with the main body of the army following the next day, Sunday, November ITth.f The royal forces being augmented l)y the arrival at Hunger- ford of 500 horse, which had been newly raised by Sir Francis Doddington in the AVest. AVhile the King was at Marlborough, the Parliamentarians, hearing of his intention as regards Basing, left Newbury with the greater part of their force, with the view (as Cromwell states in his '' Charge against Manchester") of proceeding to Elngsclere, ''for a more direct interposicion in the King's way to Basing, and that there we might fight with him upon the downes, if he came that way, and lye ready (if he should bend towardes Newberr}^) to repossesse it before him ; and on those grounds onely and to that end was our remove agreed to in full Councell." ''But," adds Cromwell, "being thus got out, and upon on our way to Kingscleare, having intelligence that the King was coming by Huugerford towardes Newberry, his Lordship [Manchester] would then neither go on to Kings- cleare, nor return into Newberry, but upon new pretences (without the Councell of AVarre) turn'd his course to Alder- marston (which was five miles homewards from Newberry, and seaven miles nearer home than Kingscleare). And, though Kingscleare was the knowne direct roade to Basing, yet he pretended to turn to Aldermarston with intent to goe directly to Basing, and that he would fight the King there which way soever he should come, if he attempted to releive it. This gave some satisfaction for present, but from Alder- t "Sunday, IJo Novembris, left Marlingsborough, and that night the King lay at Huugerford, com. Berks, seven miles [10 miles] five myles [9 miles] short of Newbery, where the head-quarters of the enemy was. The King' s troojDe at Chilton, a myle from Huugerford. Mr. Packer, who owes Denyugtou, aud was secretary to the Duke of Buckingham, owes a pretty faire howse. A little on the left hand this daye's march, wee left Ramsbury, the faire seate of the Earle of Pem- broke. Wee marched through a forest belonging to the Marques of Hertford." * * * * * ' Popham, descended of Judge Popham, owes a faire large seate, half e a myle distant from this, [Chilton Foliot], the Manor of Littlecot, with a Parke." Symonds's Diary, pp. 152-3. The King's quarters, while at Huugerford, were at the Bear Inn, where the rooms occupied by himself and his suite are still pointed out. It was at this same hostelry that William Prince of Orange received James II. 's Commissioners in Dec. 1688. FURTHER PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWO ARMIES. 195 marston Ms Lordship would not be got to Basing (makeing excuses), but with, much adoe being got out next day to Mortimer Heath, he would not be perswaded to goe on any further, alledging that many of his soldiers were run to Redding, and more would goe thither (being got so neare it); that (when he pretended for Basing) draweing the army to Aldermarston (which was cleare out of the way) he brought the soldiers soe neare Kedding that they would be running thither, and then made their running thither an occasion to avoyde going to Basing at all, and at last to drawe all to Redding. " Manchester, in his 'Defence,' says — ''So, uppon our in- telligence of the King's remove from Marlburrow, it was supposed hee was marching to Basing, to releive it with his army, wee conceived it fitting to march that day to Older- meiston, where wee continued uppon the feilds, and, if the enemy went to Baseing, to endevoiu* to intercept him ; and so at Oldermeiston, at a councell of warr, where the question was only, whether it was councellable to fight or not, and concluded by all, no man speaking so much against fighting as Cromwell, and so unanimously consenting not to fight, but to endeavour to hinder the releif e of Baseing, or to withdrawe the forces, which weare lying before Baseing, and so to keepe our armies intire, dividing ourselves, the foote at Redding and Henly, and our horse all about Fernham, Okingham, Windsor, Maj^denheacl, and Stwins" [Staines]. Immediately after the Parliamentarians had left Newbury, the Governor of Donnington Castle, exasperated with the inhabitants for their refusal to afford succoui' to his garrison in any way, made a sally into the town " on the Lord's day," with the intention of seizing the Mayor and some of the principal inhabitants, and carrying them prisoners to the Castle, and demanding a ransom for their release. This design Sir John Boys nearly accomplished before an alarm was given, and a party of Parliamentary horse quartered in the town came to the rescue. A Parliamentary Journal* afiirms that the party from the Castle went to the Mayor of the Town and pulled him out of his house, which they plundered, and that they "abused his whole family most shamefully;" and that they then went to the houses of eight or nine more chief persons in the place, dragged them also out of their dwellings, "abused their wives, children, and servants," and carried away great plunder; and that the * 'Perfect Passages of each Day's Proceedings in Parliament,' Wednesday, Nov. 20, 1664. 196 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. gentlemen themselves were actually conveyed prisoners to Donnington Castle. The Parliamentary forces being withdrawn from Basing, Sir Henry Grage's expeditioD for its relief was satisfactorily accomplished; and Sir George Lisle, with 1000 men, took an ample supply of provisions to Sir John Boys at Donnington Castle, and brought back '' without let or hindrance" the rest of the spare and military stores, which had been left behind a few days previously. Both Donnington Castle and Basing having now been well cared for, the King decided to return to Oxford, with the intention, if practicable, of surprising the Parliament's garrison at Abingdon on his wslj. On Tuesday, the 19th November, which was the King's birthday, the army marched from Hungerford to Great Shefford, his Majesty lodging for the night at the Old Manor-house. In his 'Diary,' Capt. Symonds the Poyalist chronicler writes : — " Tuesday, 19 November, the army marched. His Majestie lay at Great Shefford in the old manor howse of Mr. Browne, Esq., com., Berks; a parke belonging to it."^'" This day in the march a soldger hangd for plunder, but the rope broke." f Instances of occasional license attributable to the Poyalist troops such as that recorded by the Diarist, frequently occur- red in spite of the efforts of their officers to preserve strict * A considerable part of the old Manor-house at Great Shefford is still standing, and the chamber Tvhere Charles slept is known as "The King's Room" to this day; while the name of "The Home Park" attached to an adjacent field denotes the inclosure referred to by Symonds: — The Browaes of Shefford were a younger branch of the ennobled house of Browne, Viscounts Montagu. Sir George Browne, knt. of Wickliam, in Kent, eldest son of the first Lord Montagu married Eleanor, daughter and co-heir of Anthony Bridges, Esq., of Shefford, and was father of George Browne, Esq., of Caversham and Shefford, who, by his wife Elizabeth, second daughter of Sir Eichard Blount, knt., of Maplcdurham, had nineteen children ; three of the sons fell in the ser\4ce of Charles I. The eldest son, George, was made a K. B. at the coronation of Charles II, and dying in 1678, was buried at Great Shefford. The younger son, John, was created a Baronet, 19th May, 1665. This title became extinct in 1774, on the demise without issue of the 5th Baronet, Sir John Browne. The name of Mr. Broome of Shefford occurs in the list of those Eoyalists who compounded for their estates during the Usurpation, as follows : — " Mr. Browne, of Shefforde, being proved a papist and in armes, his estate, worth £200 p. anum, was let at Micheallmas last at £70 to Mr. Bro"s\Tie's baley, and £1000 profered for his stock, and secueritie for the munies, was sould to his baley for £100 p." — Addl. MSS. No. 5508, Brit. Mus. t Symonds' s "Diary," p. 154, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWO ARMIES. 197 discipline, and the testimony of a contemporary writer as to tlie character of the King in this respect is worth noting for its sincerity and the characteristic trait which illustrates it: — " I never observ'd any great severity in y^ King ns'd either towards y^ enemy when he had him in his power, or to y^ soulgier in his own army, except only at Wing a house of my Ld. Carnarvon, where he command'd to be hang'd upon a sign post a soulgier for stealing a chalice out of y^ Church."^' Capt. Symonds, the diligent and observant antiquary, con- tinues his entries under November 19th with the following interesting local notes : — ''Lord B. [Lord Bernard Stuart] and troope at Little Fawley, the neate and faire habitacion of the Lady Moore, wife to Sir Henry. — Painted over the Porch at Lady Moore's howse — t " Argent, a moor-cock sable [Moore]. Motto — Pegi et legi. ''The same; impaling, argent, a saltire engrailed gules, a chief azure, " Twittye," Suum cuique pulchrum. " Champion all this part of Berks. | " He that built this howse was Sergeant Moore, § temp. D. [? T] Egerton, Cane: Sir Henry was his son. Nothing but Moore's coate in the church of Fawley." On Wednesday, Nov. 20th, the King at the head of his troops marched to Wantage, passing the night a.t the house of Sir George Wilmot at Charlton; and on Thursday he went * Sir Henry Slingsby's "Diary." t The picturesque old manorial mansion of the Moores of Fawley, where Ijorcl Bernard Stuart and his aristocratic troop of the King's Life Guards were quartered, is a most interesting specimen of the domestic architecture of James the First's time, but has long been inhabited as a farm-house. It was built, as Symond's records, by the eminent lawyer Sir Frances Moore, Sergeant-at-Law, 1614-21, and although it has undergone considerable alteration at the hands of its successive owners and occupiers, most of its original characteristic features have fortunately been preserved. X "Champion" i.e. champion land ; not inclosed; downs and open fields. § Sir Francis Moore, who was born at East Ilsley in 1558, died Nov. 20, 1621, and was buried at Great Fawley. He married Anne, heiress of William Twitty, Esq., of Boreham in Essex, by whom he had several children. Henry the eldest, referred to by Symonds, was created a baronet in 1627, and was drowned, as recorded in the parish register of Fawley, 22 February, 1633 ; when his son of the same name succeeded to the title and estates. The latter is mentioned as being concerned in the Eoyalist Eising in Wilts in 1655. Sir St. John Moore, knt., brother to Sir Henry the second Baronet, was one of those persons designed for the knighthood of the Royal Oak by Charles II, — his estate being valued at £1,500 a year. On the demise of Sir Thomas, 6th baronet without issue, 10 April, 1807, the baronetcy became extincti 198 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBUEY. on to Faringdon, where lie supped and slept at tlie liouse belonging to Sir Eobert Pye. Sir Eobert had purchased of the Untons the manor and estate of Faringdon in 1622, and upon the breaking out of the civil wars his house there was garrisoned for the King. His son, Sir Eobert Pye, jun., warmly supported the parliamentarian cause, and became a colonel of horse in General Fairfax's regiment. Cromwell made an unsuccessful attempt upon this garrison in the month of June, 1645; and the following year, a second attack equally unsuccessful, was attended with a singular circumstance. Sir Eobert Pye the younger, who had married Anne, daughter of the celebrated John Hampden, heading the assailants on his own father's house, then held by Sir Greorge Lisle; and did not hesitate to batter down its walls. The church spire shared in the destruction, and the damage done to the town by fire and shot during the siege was estimated at the large sum of fifty-six thousand, nine hundred and seventy-six pounds, four shillings, as appears from a petition entered in the Commons Journal, 1 Sept., 1648. Faringdon House was one of the last places which held out for the King, being included in the Articles for the surrender of Oxford in the month of June, 1646. At Faringdon the King stayed a day to await the result of Sir Henry Gage's expedition for the relief of Basing, and to consider where to make his winter quarters. The question of disposing of the army being a business which required time for its consideration, was referred to Prince Eupert as General of the King's forces. "And so," says Sir Edward Walker, '' His Majesty leaving his Army about Farringdon, on Saturday the 23rd of November, attended by his Eegiment of Guard, and some other horse, marched toward Oxford, passing not far from Abingdon, where some parties of the Eebel's Horse drew out but durst not engage themselves. About two in the afternoon, his Majesty came to his residence in that city, where he yet continues with as much honour and safety as the violence and oppression of so universal a Eebellion will give him leave." No sooner had the King left the army than Prince Eupert, strong in the power of his own will, determined to make an attack on the garrison at Abingdon ; but the vigilant governor Browne was not to be easily caught ; and the Prince, having lost several of his men, was glad to get back again to Faringdon, little satisfied with the result of his expedition. The King's army were then put into their winter canton- ments, and Eupert joined the King at Oxford. The Parliamentary historian, Oldmixon, the bitter opponent FURTHER PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWO ARMIES. 199 of the Stuarts, with, creditable candour, thus speaks of the King's admirable conduct in this campaign. "If the same courage and conduct had been shewn by the King in so good a cause as that of King William at the Boyne, his fame and his memory would have been equally glorious and immortal." The disappointment in Parliament and in London generally at the result of the Second Battle at Newbury was extreme. The day after the news arrived of the engagement between the two armies the monthly fast took place as usual (Oct. 30, 1644), as if there were no subject for rejoicing. Disagree- able rumours began to circulate : the victory, it was said, might have been far more decisive ; but discord had reigned amongst the generals, who had suffered the King to retreat without impediment, almost in the very face of the army, on a bright moonlight night, when the least movement might have prevented it. It was much worse when the news came that the King had just reappeared in the neighbourhood of Newbury, — that he had, without interruption, removed his artillery from Donnington Castle, — and had even offered to renew the battle, without the Parliamentary army quitting its inaction. The clamour became general, and the House of Commons ordered an enquiry. Cromwell had only waited for this opportunity, to break out and report his complaint against Manchester : — "'It is to the Earl," he said, " all the blame is to be imputed, ever since the battle of Marston Moor ; he is afraid to conquer, afraid of a great and decisive success; but now, when the King was last near Newbury, nothing would have been more easy than entirely to destroy his army. I went to the Gleneral ; I showed him evidently how this could be done ; I desired his leave to make the attack with my own brigade ; other officers urged this with me, but he obstinately refused ; saying only, that if we were entirely to overthrow the King's army, the King would still be King, and always have another army to keep up the war ; while we, if we were beaten, should no longer be any thing but rebels and traitors, execrated and forfeited by the law." These last words greatly moved Parliament, who could not endure that any should suggest a doubt as to the legality of their resistance. Next day, in the Upper House, Manchester answered the attack ; explained his conduct and his words ; and in turn accused Cromwell of insubordination, of false- hood, even of treachery; for on the day of the battle (he said) neither he nor his regiment appeared at the post assigned them. Cromwell did not reply to this charge ; but renewed his own accusations more violently than before. 200 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. It would be foreign to tlie design of tliis Memoir to devote miicli space to the elucidation of tlie notorious quarrel between Manchester and Cromwell, which has been so largely dealt with by recent writers.'"-' ''This great leading incident in the history of our Civil War," observes Professor Masson, f ''brought to the surface and into direct antagonism principles of the very greatest significance in reference to the manage- ment of the war ; and the triumph of the movement-party on that occasion led directly to the ruin of the royal cause." Indeed, it enabled Cromwell, by the exercise of extraordinary finesse, to bring forward and successfully carry through the Commons the " Self-denying Ordinance," which enacted — ' ' That diuing the time of this war, no member of either House shall have or execute any office or command, military or civil, granted or conferred by both or either of the Houses of Parliament, or any authority derived from both or either of the Houses, and that an Ordinance be brought in accordingly." CHAPTER XL THE NEW MODEL. The " Self-denying Ordinance " was rejected by the Lords, but the Commons had found another way of effecting their great purpose of army reform, by requiring the Committee of both kingdoms to report at once on " The New Model of the Army," which they had been instructed to devise. This had been done on the 9th January, 1645 ; and by the 28th it had passed the Commons; and on February 15th, "The New Model Ordinance " became law. It was no longer of any use for the Lords to stand out against "The Self-denying Ordinance." That Ordinance, in fact, was already realized in the fabric of the " New Model ; " and, accordingly, having been reintroduced into the Commons in a modified form, and having passed that House, it received the assent of the Lords on April 3rd, 1645. On the preceding day, the Earls of Essex and Manchester had simplified matters by formally resigning their military commands. The commander-in-chief of the New Model Army was to be Sir Thomas Fairfax, and * A letter from the Earl of Manchester, of much importance, as showing what were the grounds on which he quarrelled with Cromwell, has been recently (1883) published by the Camden Society, and is reprinted in the Appendix, (No, XII). t Historical Preface to the "Quarrel between the Earl of Manchester and Ohver Cromwell." — Camden Soc, 1875. THE NEW MODEL. 201 tlie Major- General, or third in command, was to be Philip Skippon. The place of Lieutenant-General, or second in command, was at first left vacant, but Cromwell's name, exempted by special vote from the operation of the " Self- denying Ordinance," was soon inserted into the ''New Model Army," in the post of Lieutenant-Greneral, which had been purposely kept open for him. Thence, through successive stages, followed the rest of his career, ending in his Protector- ship of the United Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, with their Colonies and Dominions. Professor Masson further remarks that the accurate student of English history will note that the termination of this famous quarrel between Cromwell and Manchester coincides in time with another great event, distinct from the new modelling of the army and the Self-Denjdng Ordinance, namely the Establishment of the Presbyterian system in England, the first definite votes for which, in the two Houses, were made in January, 1644-5. It is worthy of record that the New Model Army, ^'' con- sisting of 21,000 men— 14,000 foot, 6000 horse, and 1000 dragoons, came to Newbury on its first march. On the 30th April, Fairfax advanced from Windsor (hitherto his head- quarters) to Heading; and thence on May-day to Theale; and on the 2nd May, he quartered in the town of Newbury, where a meeting took place between him and Cromwell. At this interview the desirability of attempting an attack on Donning- ton Castle was considered; but the fortress had withstood so many assaults that it had the reputation of being impregn- able ; and, whatever the views of the two Parliamentarian generals on the subject may have been, they at all events did not make any attempt on the garrison. The day that the Newly-modelled Army arrived in Newbury, intelligence was received that Lord Groring was advancing out of the West with a large body of horse and dragoons ; his orders being to check Fairfax, and keep him separate from Cromwell ; and finally to join the King's army, and enable it to meet the enemy in a general battle. Where- upon a party of horse was sent out the same night towards Hungerford and Marlborough to reconnoitre ; and, meeting with a detachment of the Poyalists, they took Col. Hacket * The strictest disci]3liiie was observed in the New Model Army, and terrible punishments were summarily inflicted on oifenders. While Fairfax' s troops were at Newbury a soldier was ordered to have his tongue bored through with a red hot iron for notorious swearing and blasphemy ; and other like examples of prompt and rigid severity for mihtary offences are recorded. 2c 202 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBUEY. and six otlier prisoners, without loss on their own side. This affair resulted very opportune!}^, as Col. Hacket, in order to conciliate his captors, gave the information that Goring intended early next morning to surprise Cromwell's quarters at Stanford-in-the-Vale and other places near Faringdon. Cromwell being at once warned of his danger, the attack was successfully repulsed. Sir Marmaduke Rawdon, the gallant Grovernor of Basing, who had been recently superseded in his command of the garrison there on account of certain religious dissensions, and appointed Governor of Faringdon, was ordered to join Goring in this expedition against the Parliamentary forces under Cromwell. '' On May-day, 1645, some 500 horse and foot cavaliers marched out of Loyalty House. As they were crossing the Kennet, between Thatcham and Newbury, they were attacked by Colonel Butler's Puritan regiment of horse, but succeeded in reaching Donnington Castle, where they were prudently refused admission by brave Sir John Boys, who was apprehensive of a siege. Fortunately for Sir Marmaduke Pawdon and his men, Fairfax's large army and about 32 guns did not reach Newbury until the following evening, so that they were able to pursue their march next morning, but were chased throughout the day by Colonel Butler, until about five o'clock in the afternoon, when they joined Goring' s army near Lambourn. Col. Butler captured some prisoners, amongst them was a Commissioner of Excise, who had about £25 in his possession. Goring was on May- Day at or near Marlborough ' at dinner with his officers, roaring and drinking healths, and making themselves merry,' and he mustered his army at Marlborough on May 2nd. Some of his men had penetrated as far as Farnham, but were obliged to beat a hasty retreat towards Oxford, abandoning three guns and some ammunition." ^'' From Newbury Fairfax marched, on May 3rd, to the relief of the important town of Taunton, which was closely invested by the royalists, but stoutly held by Blake. On the 7th May the King left Oxford and rejoined Prince Pupert, intending to raise the siege of Chester, or to give battle to the Scottish army, — Cromwell and Browne following and watching their movements. When this news reached London, the Committee of both Kingdoms sent an express ordering Fairfax to retrace his steps at once and invest Oxford, detaching a brigade for the relief of Taunton ; and the army returned to Newbury on the 14th May, Here, * Godwin's * Civil "War in Hampshire,' p. 211. FINAL SIEGE OF DONNINGTON CASTLE. 203 Fairfax remained three days to refresh his men and arrange his plans. The day following his entry into Newbnry, he ''faced" Donnington Castle, with a portion of his troops, and took ten officers and other prisoners. This, however, appears to have been little more than a mere exhibition of force; and on the 17th the New Model proceeded from Newbury to Blewbury, and encamped on the Downs two nights. By the 19th they had marched as far as Nuneham ; the next day two miles further to Grarsington ; on the 22nd to Marston about a mile from Oxford, where Fairfax was joined by the Horse under Cromwell and Browne, and the city was invested; but, the artillery train being at Windsor, there was no means of undertaking a regular siege. Fairfax withdrew from Oxford on the 9th June, having received orders to go in search of the King and fight at all hazards. Before he set out, he sent an application to Parliament, signed by himseK and sixteen colonels, for Cromwell, who was away in the Eastern Counties, to join him. The Lords deferred their answer, but the authorization of the Commons was prompt, and was accepted as sufficient. Fairfax im- mediately sent word to Cromwell ; all the regiments hastened their march; and within a few days (on the 14th June) came the crowning defeat of the liing at Naseby ; and from that moment the issue of the war was practically decided. CHAPTER XII. FINAL SIEGE OF DONNINGTON CASTLE. The Parliament during the spring and summer of 1645, had too important work on hand to be able to pay much attention to Donnington Castle ; but in the autumn of that year it was determined to set about the siege in earnest. After the storming and surrender of Basing House (14th Oct., 1645). Cromwell strongly urged the House to curb the predatory incursions of Sir John Boys and the Governors of Wallingford and Faringdon, which so injuriously interfered with the trade between London and the West ; and, for that purpose, he advised "a, strong quarter" being made at Newbury. The Parliament consequently determined forth- with to reduce Donnington Castle, and the charge of this service they particularly recommended to Cromwell and Colonel Dalbier, both of whom were shortly afterwards in the neighbourhood of Newbury. Cromwell, [possibly aware 204 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. of the intrepid spirit wliicli animated tlie governor and garrison at Donniugton, seems to have weighed the chances of an assault, and to have decided against undertaking •'such a knotty piece of business." He therefore went into Devonshire to join Fairfax. The matter, however, was not to be set aside ; and it was resolved to accomplish the reduction of a fortress to which so much importance was attached ; and to enforce the submission of its Governor, who had so often baffled and disappointed the attempts of his opponents. Instructions were accordingly sent to the Committees of the three Counties, Oxford, Berks, and Bucks, to unite their several forces for this purpose. The Committee of both Kingdoms conferred the command of the expedition (27 Oct.) on Colonel Dalbier, who was intrusted with the various duties of the siege, and authorised to proclaim martial law. Colonel Martin was appointed his second in command. Considerable sums of money were voted by both Houses ^' for the equipment and pay of the troops, and for providing all necessary materiel for the effective prosecution of the siege. Nothing was omitted that was considered necessary to ensure the success of the enterprise. On the 6th Nov., Dalbier marched with the forces of the three associated Counties to Newbury, to meet the Hampshire contingent, which had been ordered to join him. The latter body were under the command of Colonel Thomas Bettesworth, High- Sheriff of Hants, '' a gallant active man," whom we shall hear of again presently. Dalbier' s force was subse- quently further augmented by 200 foot furnished by the Committee of the County of Sussex ; and five companies of foot and a troop of horse, by the County of Surrey. The last, which came from Farnham, were under Colonel Fielder, late Governor of the garrison in that town, the works there having been ordered to be '' slighted." f A troop of horse also, which had been engaged at Basing, was sent by the County of Kent. Captain John Blagrave, of Reading, was promoted to the rank of Major of his regiment, and appointed to the command of the Berkshire detachment of horse, con- sisting of three hundred men. Captain Robert Yoisey had the charge of the foot drawn out of the garrison of Windsor. Notwithstanding all these reinforcements, Dalbier did not apply himself with zeal to effect a rapid reduction of the * On the 4tli Nov. 1645, £3000 was voted ; on the 10th, £500 ; on the foUowing 28 Feb. 1645-6, £2500, with £600 for the pay of the Kentish Horse employed in the siege. t "Slighted" i.e. razed or levelled with the ground. FINAL SIEGE OF DONNINGTON CASTLE. 205 Castle ; and, intelligence having reached him that the King had returned to Oxford, he at one postponed the siege and retired with his force to Aldermaston. He was aware of the character of the royalist Governor and the value of the defences, and considered an attack with the forces at his command difficult and hazardous. He decided therefore to remain at Aldermaston until he had collected the whole of his disposable strength, and had perfected his preparations. Unless his integrity be questioned, it is difficult to account for Dalbier's comparative inaction, considering that all the arrangements had been so carefully made, and that such a reasonable prospect of success presented itself ; but possibly he had sufficient reasons to excuse himself, as his courage was undoubted. At this time the King's affairs were daily be- coming more disastrous. AVhile Fairfax was obtaining success after success in the West, the royal forces were everywhere being defeated and dispersed. What Dalbier's motives were it is impossible to say ; he was, however, indisposed to make a vigorous and decisive attempt on the Castle ; and, as will be seen from Captain Knight's relation of the siege, in the Appendix to this volume, it was not until the beginning of December that Dalbier again returned to Newbury. Much to his chagrin, he found on his arrival at Donnington that the whole of the houses in the village and adjacent places had been burnt by order of Sir John Boys, consequently he withdrew his infantry into Newbury, and quartered the horse in the immediate neighbourhood. The season of the year was very unfavourable for military operations, ''the winter being very rude and viollente ; " and as every place affording shelter or protection had been burnt or otherwise destroyed, Dalbier could not lay close siege to the Castle, as he had intended. Meanwhile the Parliament were asking what was being done before Donnington ; and it is evident that they were not satisfied with the progress of aifairs, and with Dalbier's lingering proceedings. Early in December a report was ordered to be made concerning Donnington Castle ; and shortly afterwards the whole business was referred to the Committee of Hants, Surrey, Sussex, and Kent, and the Committees of the three associated counties of Oxon, Berks, and Bucks, with a request that they would represent their opinions to the House of Commons. These joint Committees presented their report on the 9th January following; and a letter was also read from Colonel Dalbier. Both of these were recommitted for further consideration. Nothing of moment or of military interest occurred for some little time in connection with the siege of the Castle, 206 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. Dalbier remaining quiet in his quarters in Newbury. His intended operations against the threatened fortress were post- poned until the Spring. Sir John Boys in the interval was vigilantly on the watch against any surprise from Dalbier' s force, whose movements, from his position at Donnington, he could clearly observe. He therefore made every prej^aration against the inevitable assault, knowing full well that all depended on his own exertions, that no aid could be expected, and that the calamity which he had so long and honourably striven to avert must necessarily soon follow. But this did not discourage the gallant Grovernor, who laboured vigorously in restoring and enlarging the defences, ^provisioning his little garrison, and securing forage for the horses of his trusty band of forty troopers. '' Such gallants were they," saj^s Captain Knight, "that the enemy's horse never faced the Castle, but they received some loss." In fact every available means were employed that could secure the place and insure a successful resistance. Although the investment of the Castle had not yet actually commenced, the two j)arties were not altogether inactive, there bring a frequent " beating-up of quarters," and daring sallies by Sir John Boys on the Kentish regiment lying at Burghclere, Woodhay, and Balsdon House, near Kintbury, all of which are fully narrated by Captain Knight, who shared in the ever memorable defence already referred to. In the month of March, Dalbier resolved to take more active measares, and commenced a regular investment. Having advanced within reach of the shot-riddled fortress, a "mortar-piece" was brought into requisition, the shells from which fell upon the ancient masonry with destructive effect, and in a few hours it came down in such masses that some of the garrison ran out into the works for shelter. The bore of this formidable piece of artillery must have been more than fifteen inches in diameter, judging from a fragment of one of the projectiles still preserved in the Castle.^' The three counties of Oxon, Berks, and Bucks possessed one of these mortars, which is referred to in the " Commons' Journal" of January 19th, 1645, when it was proposed to employ this piece of ordnance against Belvoir Castle, an intention subsequently countermanded ; and it was no doubt retained for service against Donnington Castle. The charge * A short time since, in removing the roots of a fine and aged elm- tree which had been felled on the south side of the Castle, considerable portions of a shell of large size were discovered, the diameter of this projectile when entire being fully 15 inches. The remains of an iron vessel containing lead were also found at this spot, wliich had probably been used for casting bullets. FINAL SIEGE OF DONNINGTON CASTLE. 207 ordered by tlie House to be paid for the use and transport of this mortar was tbree hundred and fifty pounds, which would indicate that it was of unusual size and capacity, and its transit a difficult operation. The concluding incidents of the last dsijs of the siege are thus described in the ''Weekly Account,' under date of Thursday, 26th March, 1646. '' From Dennington we have received intelligence that Col. Dalbeer, drawing up close to the Castle to break the ground and intrench our men, the enemy at our beginning to break the ground sallied forth, took 50 prisoners, two colors, and some of the spades and pickaxes, but this retarded not the work, for since that time he hath shot divers granadoes into the Castle, fired the Barn and some other Outhouses, and done some execution on the main Fabrick, which hath brought the enemy to stoop and send out to desire a parley, which being refused the Governor hath sent to Oxford desiring to be satisfied in time whether he may expect reliefe, for otherwise he must be forced to a render on such conditions he could get, which his long stand- ing out will in no way advance." The following week, Tuesday, March 31st, the correspondent of the same journal thus proceeds to inform its readers of the progress of events: — ''I have already told you what execution Col. Dalbeer hath done against Dennington Castle, and of the Governour's sending to Oxford, I shall in this place give you the sequill; for it is this day certified that upon the messenger's going to Oxford Sir John Boys (Governor of the Castle) received not only assurance that he could expect no relief from Oxford, but further that there was a great defeat given to Sir Jacob Astley, which till now he seemed ignorant . of. Hereupon the Governor stooping to play on such con- ditions as before he seemed to reject, a treaty was hearkened unto, and we understand this day by Mr. Packer's son, whose inheritance it is (and come from thence this day) that Col. Dalbeere is to have the possession thereof tomorrow at nine of the clocke. There are in the Castle about 200 common souldiers, divers pieces of Ordnance, and good store of Baggage." The ' Moderate Intelligencer,' of the same date, informs its readers that ''This day came the news of the Accord of Dennington Castle, which they are to surrender tomorrow : the granadoes made such work that the souldiers within knew not where to secure themselves, divers leaping over their works and craving quarter ; the house will be preserved for that universally well spoken of gentleman and owner Mr. Packer." 208 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. A few clays before tlie capitulation of tlie Castle, Colonel Dalbier, having intimation that a body of the King's horse were drawing towards Donnington from the garrison at Oxford, dispatched Colonel Bettesworth to intercept them. They were met between Oxford and Faringdon ; and, after a very spirited encounter, the Eoyalists retired ; but, on being pursued, eighty of the troopers were taken prisoners. On the previous Thursday, Col. Bettesworth had met with a reverse in another skirmish, four of his men being killed, and eleven others taken prisoners by the royalists. Sir John Boys, who was shut up within the fortress, and ignorant of the state of affairs without, finding the old walls coming down about his ears, and his guns either dismounted or unserviceable, upon the return of the King's messenger with instructions to deliver up the Castle, surrendered it into the hands of Colonel Dalbier on the following conditions : — Articles agreed upo]N', Moi^day, the 30th March, 1646, FOR the Surrendring oe Dennington Castle.^* 1 . It is agreed upon, that Sir John Boys, knight, Governour of Dennington Castle aforesaid, shall march according to the Articles insuing agreed upon (that is to say) upon Wednesday morning next, being the first day of April, by 6 of the clock, the Governour, with all his Officers, Gentlemen, and Souldiers, are then to march out with Cullers flying and Drums beating, the Governour with 4 horses and arms, and every Field Officer with 2, and every Capt. 1, the Lieut. -Col of horse with two horses and arms, and the other officers and reformado officers of horse with 1 horse and arms aj)iece, 100 of the foot soldiers to march with their arms two miles, and the rest to march without, towards Wallingford, and then 50 to lay down their arms, and the other 50 to march with Cullers flying, drums beating, light matches. Bullets in their mouth, and Bandeliers fil'd with powder. 2. That if any officer or souldier in this Garrison hath been in the Parliament service, shall receive the equall benefit comprised in these articles. 3. That what officer or souldier late of this garrison shall desire to go beyond sea, shall have a Passe to go to London, or to what place they shall desire, within the Parliament's quarters, to procure the same accordingly. 4. That all Officers and Souldiers, late of this Garrison, who desire to go to their own Mansions or place of residence * ' Perfect Occurrences of Both Houses of Parliament and Martiall Affairs, beginning Friday, the 27 March, and ending Friday, 3 April, 1646.' Fro7)i FINAL SIEGE OF DONNINGTON CASTLE. 209 and several dwellings, have a free passe to do so, without being molested or pressed to any oath, provided that they be engaged never to take up arms against the Parliament. 5. That there shall be a safe conduct granted to Walling- ford accordingly. 6. That there shall be two Carts with teams, provided by the time appointed, the one to carry Sir John's baggage, the other to carry the Officers'. 7. That the Governor, Officers, and Souldiers, late of Bennington Castle aforesaid, shall at the time deliver up the Castle aforesaid to Col. Dulbier for the use of the Parliament, with all the Ordnance, Arms, Ammunition, and Provision therein (except what is before expressed), without embezzling the arms or ammunition, or demolishing the works. 8. That the prisoners now in Dennington Castle shall upon the signing of these articles be delivered forth and set at liberty. 9. That the wounded Souldiers of the Castle shall have liberty to be left in Newbury or elsewhere the Governour pleases, and to have present passes, that after their recovery they may go to their severall mansions or dwellings without interruption or molestation. Coll. Maetin, \ Signed Major Eynes, > For Col. Dulbier. Major Collingwood ) Major Beistn-et, \ Capt. Osborj^, I For Sir John Boys. Capt. Gregory, ) At the time of the surrender there were in the Castle 6 pieces of ordnance, about 20 barrels of gunpowder, with a proportionable quantity of match and other ammunition, and 140 men. The field which tradition points out as that in which Dalbier was encamped, and where the treaty for the surrender of the Castle was negotiated, is still called " Dalbier's Mead." It lies on the eastern side of the Castle, and near the gardens and park of Donnington-Castle House. The honourable and exceptional terms given to the gallant and faithful custodian of the Castle, Sir John Boys, bear witness that his unshaken loyalty to the King was acknow- ledged and admired even by his adversaries ; and perhaps it would be impossible to find a brighter page in the whole history of these Civil Commotions than that which records the deeds of daring and devotion of this brave Cavalier. 2d 210 THE SECOKD BATTLE OF NEWBURY. By the time Donnington Castle liad fallen, the King's cause was irretrievably lost ; the wreck of his army, scattered about in the Western Counties, was either defeated and dispersed, or compelled to take refuge in those few towns which were still hostile to the Parliament. In the Midlands the Royalists were equally unfortunate. On the 21st of March, 1645-6, a few days before the suiTender of Donnington Castle, Sir Jacob (now Lord) Astley, having succeeded in collecting about 3000 men from the E-oyalist garrisons of Salop, Stafford, and Worcester, partially evacuated for that purpose, was on his way from the last mentioned place to Chi^^ping-Norton, where he had arranged to meet Sir John Cansfield with 1500 horse and foot from the King's garrison at Oxford. But through some misinformation or delay, Cansfield' s trooj)s did not arrive at the proper time, and before Astley could obtain succour or withdraw, he was attacked by a considerable number of the Parliamentary forces under Brereton, Morgan, and Birch, at Donnington, a hamlet in the parish of Stow-on-the-Wold ; and, after a gallant resistance, totally routed. The brave old soldier Lord Astley, Sir Charles Lucas, and most of the ofiicers who were not killed, were taken prisoners. This was the last body of troops that appeared in the field for the King before the close of what is known as the " First Civil War." ^' The important city of Exeter opened its gates to Fairfax on the following 13th of April, after sustaining numerous assaults, and a vigorous blockade for more than two months. On the other hand, a succession of disasters now attended the Royalists on all sides; every day towns fell from their keeping, one after another, there being no longer a field force caj)able of offering any effective opposition. Fairfax, having now swept all before him in the West, was enabled to lead his army back in triumph to besiege Oxford, which was now almost the only j)lace of any strength that had not yielded to the Parliament. The smaller towns of Wallingf ord and Woodstock were ah-eady blockaded ; and the King foresaw that his last strongholds must inevitably fall into the enemy's hands. * It was on this occasion that Lord Astley is reported to have used the meraorable and prophetic words which have been so often quoted : " Sir Jacob Ashley being taken captive, and wearyed in this fight, and being ancient (for old age's silver haires had quite covered over his head and beard), the souldiers brought him a drum to sit and rest himself e upon ; who being sate, he said (as was most credibly enf ormed) unto our souldiers : Gentlemen, yee may now sit downe and play, for you have done all yoiu' worke, if you fall not out among yourselves." — Vicar's ''Burning Bush," p. 399. FINAL SIEGE OF DONNINGTON CASTLE. 211 The Parliamentary general, Fairfax, arrived at Newbury on the 27th April, 1646; and, after disposing of the troops which had been engaged with Dalbier at Donnington Castle, came the second time before Oxford. ''Having observed the situation of the city," says Sir Boger Manley, '' he made a large quarter capable of receiving three thousand men upon Hadington [Headington] Hill, which he also fortified very well; and drawing a line from thence round, he strengthened it with other forts, appointing the Colonels Kayns borough, Lambert, and Herbert to command them. "Whereby the city was entirely shut up." ^'' Meanwhile, the King hearing that Fairfax had reached Newbury, within 25 miles of Oxford, and on the recommen- dation of Montreuil, the French envoy, determined to take the disastrous step of placing himself under the protection of the Scottish army. The guards being loosely kept by the troops round Oxford, Charles, disguised as a servant, was enabled to leave the city on the night of the 27th of April with little difficulty; his only attendants being Ashburnham and Hudson. After many perilous adventures he arrived at the head-quarters of the army then besieging the town of Newark-on-Trent, on the 5th of May; and soon discovered how fatal was the counsel of his advisers. Woodstock surrendered on the 26th of April ; Banbury on the 8th of May; and Newark was given up after a siege of six weeks, the following day. All motive for continuing the war was now at an end ; and the King desirous of attaining a reconciliation with the Parliament, sent a warrant on the 10th of June, signed with his own hand, to the governors of all the remaining royalist garrisons in England and Wales, enjoining them to obtain honourable conditions and disband the forces under their several commands. Oxford, the seat of learning and of loyalty to the King, where Charles had so long kept his court, was surrendered to Fairfax on the 24th of June ; Lichfield capitulated on the 16th of July; Worcester, on the 23rd; Faringdon, included in the ''Oxford Articles," on the 24th; and Wallingford Castle on the 27th, being one of the last of the garrisons in England that held out against the Parliament.! It would be exceeding the limits to which the history of * Manley's "Hist, of the Eebellion," p. 129. t The last strong place in England which held out for Charles was Pontefract Castle, where, after the King's death on the scaffold, Ms successor was ditly proclaimed by the garrison, which did not capitulate until six months later. 212 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. the Two Battles of Newbury legitimately extends to enlarge upon the many melancholy incidents which accompanied the few remaining years of the checkered life of the unfortunate Eling. Betrayed by the Scots — his own countrymen, confined as a prisoner at Holdenby, Hampton Court, Carisbrook, and Hurst Castle, successively, he was finally brought to Windsor, and thence taken to London, where on the 30th of January, 1648-9, he met his death with fortitude and dignity on the scaffold erected before the banquetting house of Whitehall. Whatever may be the political estimate of Charles's char- acter, there can be no doubt as to his domestic virtues and the courage with which he endured his fate. Even his faults as a Buler, and the errors of his Administration, were rather the effect of the school in which he had been trained than of any inherent tendency to despotism on his part. A professed believer in the Divine Eight of Kings, he was conscientiously unable to bow to the rising tide of disbelief in such a creed. There was a point beyond which nothing could make him bend ; and, if his conduct had always been as straightforward as his principles, he would have attained the summit of fame as a political and ecclesiastical martyr. But if he failed in many ways as a King, he at least died like one ; and even his political opponent, Andrew Marvel, generously recognized his exemplary patience and equanimity in those familiar lines which form part of an ode addressed to Cromwell himself : — "He nothing common did, or mean, Upon that memorable scene ; But with his keener eye The axe's edge did try: Nor called the gods, with vulgar spite, To vindicate his helpless right ; But bowed his comely head Down as upon a bed." His conduct in reference to the Battles of Newbury, as we have here traced it, illustrates both the virtues and faults of his character, from a military point of view ; and if these pages have added anything to the vividness with which every feature of the English Revolution deserves to be studied, the labour expended on them will have been amply rewarded. 213 APPEI^DIX. I.— THE KING'S MAECH TO NEWBURY. October, 1644. (From the 'Iter Carolxnum.'' ) Friday, 18 Oct to Andover. The Wliite Hart. (Dinner in the field.) 1 night ; 15 miles. Saturday, 19 Oct. to Wliitclmrch. Mr. Brooke's.* (Dinner in the field.) 2 nights; 7 miles. Monday, 21 Oct. to Kingsclere. Mr. Towers'. t (Dinner at Whit- church.) 1 night; 5 miles. Tuesday, 22 Oct. to Newbury. Master Dunce's J night's residence. (Dinner at Kingsclere.) 5 nights; 6 miles. (From Sijmonds's 'Diary,'' J Monday, 21 October. His Majestic, &c. left Whitchurch, the general rendesvous (sic) upon the Downe near Kingsmill's howse. § * Whitchurch. The King when at Whitchurch quartered at "The Priory," the house of Mr. Thomas Krooke, a staunch royalist, whose family had long resided at this place. There are several of their memorials in the Church. Mr. Brooke, who is said to have entertained Charles and his officers at the old Town Hall, was lay impropriator ot the Rectory; but, being proved a "Delinquent " by the Parlia- ment, his estates were sequestrated, and the Minister of his appointment expelled. The inhabitants of Whitchurch petitioned the Committee for (Jompositions sitting at Goldsmiths' Hall, to grant an increase of stipend, out of Mr. Brooke's estate, to the " Orthodox " minister, Mr. Bellchamber, whose income was only £14 a year, a quarter of malt, and a quarter of wheat. The Committee accordingly voted £50 a year for,!this purpose. The petition, which is preserved at the Hecord Office is signed by Will. Pointer, Robt. Mills, Richd. Holloway, Will. Rolph, Will. Webb, Dan. Clarke, and others. t Kingsclere. The residence of Mr. Towers was at Frobury Park, but one mile from Kingsclere. Part of the old mansion at Frobury is now occupied as a farm- house, on the south side of which are the remains of the ancient chapel. A portion of the stone pulpit was in the building within the last fifty years; and at the present time the base of the font, which appears to be of local stone, does duty as a horse-block in the farm-yard. The house is partly surrounded by a moat, which probably also served as a fish-stew. Foundations have been met with in various parts of the grounds, showing that a building of considerable extent once existed here. Traces of a carnage-drive to the mansion from theEcchinswell-and-Newbury road are discernible ; the ^chief approach was, as at present, from the Kingsclere 175 road on the south In the " Lay Subsidy Rolls," Pub Record Office. ^, 17 Car. I. 1641, Robert Towers is described as "of Frobury, Gent." and assessed as owner. This was most probably the gentleman who received the King. The property is now life hold, and reverts to Lord Bolton. X See Appendix II. § At Sydmonton. Henry, second son of Sir Henry Kingsmill, of Sydmonton, was slain when fighting gallantly for the King at Edgehill, and was buried in the Churchyard of Radway. In Jago's Poem of "Edgehill," there is a print of this monument ; but only the mutilated remains of the effigy now exist, and these are preserved in the tower of Radway New Church. In the Kingsmill Chapel, Kings- clere Church, there is a fine alabaster altar-tomb, with effigies of Sir Henry and Lady Bridget Kingsmill. 213 APPETfDIX. I.— THE KING'S MAECH TO NEWBURY. October, 1644. (From the 'Iter Carolinmn.^J Friday, 18 Oct to Andover. The White Hart. (Dinner in the field.) 1 night ; 15 miles, Saturday, 19 Oct. to Wliitchurch. Mr. Brooke's.* (Dinner in the field.) 2 nights; 7 miles. Monday, 21 Oct. to Kingsclere. Mr. Towers'. t (Dinner at Whit- church.) 1 night; 5 miles. Tuesday, 22 Oct. to Newbury. Master Dunce's J night's residence. (Dinner at Kingsclere.) 5 nights; 6 miles. (From Symonds's ' Diary. ^ J Monday, 21 October. His Majestic, &c. left Whitchurch, the general rendesvous (sic) upon the Downe near Kingsmill's howse. § * Whitchurch. The King when at Whitchurch quartered at "The Priory," the house of Mr. Thomas Krooke, a staunch royalist, whose family had long resided at this place. There are several of their memorials in the Church. Mr. Brooke, who is said to have entertained Charles and his officers at the old Town Hall, was lay impropriator of the Rectory; but, being proved a "Delinquent " by the Parlia- ment, his estates were sequestrated, and the Minister of his appointment expelled. The inhabitants of Whitchurch petitioned the Committee for Compositions sitting at Goldsmiths' Hall, to grant an increase of stipend, out of Mr. Brooke's estate, to the "Orthodox" minister, Mr. Bellchamber, whose income was only £14 a 'year, a quarter of malt, and a quarter of wheat. The Committee accordingly voted £50 a year for,'this purpose. The petition, which is preserved at the Kecord Office is signed by Will. Pointer, Robt. Mills, Richd. Holloway, Will. Rolph, Will. Webb, Dan. Clarke, and others. t Kingsclere. The residence of Mr. Towers was at Frobury Park, but one mile from Kingsclere. Part of the old mansion at Frobury is now occupied as a farm- house, on the south side of which are the remains of the ancient chapel. A portion of the stone pulpit was in the building within the last fifty years; and at the present time the base of the font, which appears to be of local stone, does duty as a horse-block in the farm-yard. The house is partly surrounded by a moat, which probably also served as a fish-stew. Foundations have been met with in various parts of the grounds, showing that a building of considerable extent once existed here. Traces of a carnage-drive to the mansion from theEcchinswell-and-Newbury road are discernible ; the ^chief approach was, as at present, from the Kingsclere 17.5 road on the south In the " Lay Subsidy Rolls, Pub Record Oflace, r^, 17 Car. I. 1641, Robert Towers is described as "of Frobury, Gent." and assessed as owner. This was most probably the gentleman who received the King. The property is now life hold, and reverts to Lord Bolton. X See Appendix II. § At Sydmonton. Henry, second son of Sir Henry Kingsmill, of Sydmonton, was slain when fighting gallantly for the King at Edgehill, and was buried in the Churchyard of Radway. In Jago's Poem of "Edgehill," there is a print of this monument; but only the mutilated remains of the eflBgy now exist, and these are preserved in the tower of Radway New Church. In the Kingsmill Chapel, Kings- clere Church, there is a fine alabaster altar-tomb, with effigies of Sir Henry and liady Bridget Kingsmill. 214 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. Tuesday, 22 Oct. The general rendesvoiis (sic) was upon Red Heath, ueare Newbeiy. His Majestic knighted Sir John Boys upon the hill, the Governor of Dennygton Castle that was so much battered, and so often sett upon by all their forces at severall times. The King lay at Mr. Duns his howse in Newbery : the troope at Welford, the Manor belonging to Mr. Hinton, jure uxoris, a faire habitacion, com. Berks. When the King's army was in Cornwall, the infantry was divided into three tertias, and every tertia should consist of three brigades, and thus they continued the marche backe againe. First tertia was commanded by Colonel Blague, governor of Walling- f ord Castle ; his regiment was there at Wallingf ord. Colonels : King' Life Guard. Lord Generall Ruthvin's. Sir Jacob Astley, Major Generall Colonel Sir Henry Bard. . Duke of Yorkes. Sir James Penniman's. Eldest Regiment of the Army. Lord Percies. Sir Lewis Dives Second tertia was commanded by Colonel George Lisle. Colonels : Colonel Cha. Lloyd, Quartermaster Generall and Enginere Generall. (Ebor.) Colonel George Lisle' s, which was Colonel Bolles. Colonel Thelwel's, Wales. Owen, raysd in Wales. E^vre, vulg. Euers. Blackwall, Nott. Gilby, raysd Ebor. Stradling, Wales. Vaughan's, Wales. Third tertia commanded by Sir Bernard Asteley, son to Sir Jacob. Colonels : Lord Hopton's Regiment. Colonel Apisley. Talbot. Cooke. Coui-tney, &c. (Sir Ja. Penniman told me.) Prince Maurice his army marched by it selfe. Colonel Sir James Penniman's regiment of ffoot, whiche was hi.s cousin's Sir WiUiam P., first Lt. -Colonel to Sir William (sic). George Symons, Leift.- Colonel now, was Major at first. Ebor. Major Wm. Wyvell, Ebor 1 Captain, Richard Page, now Leift. -Colonel, Nov. 1644. 2 Captain, Fr. Lawson, Lincoln. 3 Captain, William Bridges, a scrivener in Chancery Lane, knighted at Leicester. 4 Captain, Fr. Bateson, Ebor. 5 Captain, Jo. Jackson, Ebor. 6 Captain, Anthony Norton, Ebor. 7 Captain, George Etherington, Ebor. 8 Captain, Robert Carington, Ebor. All raysd in Yorkshire, and came with the King from Yorke. (Told me by Sir Ja. himself e, 29 November, 1644.) APPENDIX. 215 II.— THE KING'S STAY IN NEWBURY. The late Mr. C. E. Long, M.A., the editor of Symouds' Diary, has suggested that the name of the King's host at Newbury during the few days he was here before the Second Battle, and which is written by Symonds "Duns," and in the 'Iter Carolinum' "Dunce," may have been intended for "Dunch" ; but no record has been found of any branch of this extremely anti-royalist family having resided in Newbury. In the "Protestation Returns," given at page 115, the name of — Dunce, * Esq., of Newbury, appears written exactly as spelt by the careful compiler of the 'Iter Carolinum,' G-arter-King-at-Arms, who adds "a night's residence." We are told by 'The True Informer' for the week ending Oct. 26th, that "His Majesty lay Wednesday night at Newbury, at one Mr. Weston's house, where he was on Thursday morning, it not being possible for Mm to get to Oxford, by reason of the great floods." If we can believe ' Mercurius Aulicus, ' we are spared a deal of unnecessary investigation in endea- vouring to identify the house where the Iving stayed, for that paper tells us it ivas demolished ! The following is the version given by the Royalist chronicler — "Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1644, next morning after His Majesty's army was drawn off from Newbury, the Rebells very eagerly entered the town, where they quickly manifested their strength was much abated, but their mahce as high as ever, for the first enquiry they made was for the house where His Majesty himself had lodged, and no sooner found it out, but instantly (like perfect Rebells) they layd the house flat with the ground, and if that was not sufficient to speake them the worst of Rebells, they took that very Bed whereon they guessed His Sacred Majesty had lyen, hacked the bed-poasts with their swords, cut and slasht the bedding, and scattered the pieces up and down the streets, evidencing themselves the most perjur'd, bloody, malitious covenantors, that sweare they fight for His Majestic' s Person and Honour ! and yet are wild because they cannot murther him, from whose mercies God Almighty still preserve him." From the above accounts it appears quite clear that the King slept at Mr. Dunce's house on Tuesday night, and at Mr. Weston's on Wednesday night. (The latter was Mayor of Newbury the following year, 1645, and also in 1652.) In the 'History of Newbury ' (p. 47), it is stated that a certain Mr. Hoar, a wealthy clothier, f who appears, from local records, to have been a person of good position in the town, gave up his house, on the west side of Cheap Street, for the reception of the King. The house was on the site now occupied by the residence appertaining to the Eagle Iron-works. When the army, however, was drawn out from the town and sta- tioned at Shaw, Donnington, and Speen, the King probably took up his quarters at Shaw House, placed at his disposal by Sir Thomas Dolman, then a youth, scarcely of age, — "which place," says Richard Blome in his 'Britannia,' published in 1673, "had the good fortune in the time of the late war to receive His Majesty and His Majesty now reigning" (Charles II., then Prince of Wales). At Shaw House a * In the ' Subsidy Eolls,' Pub. Eecord Office, the name is sjoelt "Daunce," and also in a petition from the inhabitants of Newbury, \62i-6, in respect to the town's purchasing the manorial rights of the Crown. In Blewbury Church is a monument to the wife of Sir John Daunce, daughter of Thos. Latton of Uhilton, near Ilsley. The name has gradually been reduced to " Dance." t The ' Diary or Exact Journal,' Oct. 24 to 31, 1644, certifies that the King lodged " in a Cioafchier's house," but does not mention the name of its owner. 216 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. brass plate is inserted in the wainscot of a room on the east side of the mansion, to commemorate an attempt made to shoot the King while dressing at the window. It was probably placed here by the zealous antiquary, Mr. Pettit Andrews, F.S.A., author of a 'Continuation of Heirry's History of England,' who was born at Shaw in 1737, and con- tributed much valuable local information to Mores' ' Collections towards a Parochial History of Berkshire.' The brass plate is thus inscribed — "The Hole in the Wainscot, wliich appears through the aperture of this plate, was occasioned by a ball discharged from the musquet of a Parliamentary Soldier at King Charles the First, while he sate dressing himself in this Projection. The baU. was found and preserved during many years, but is now lost. This regicidal attemjDt seems to have been made on Oct. 26 or 27, a.d. 1644." Then foUows an extract from Blome, a portion of which is given above, and a quotation from Ludlow's 'Memoires,' vol. i. pp, 129 and 131. On another plate on the opposite side of the window, a second record of the event is placed in a frame, in the centre of which is a medallion portrait of Charles I., with this inscription — Hang jtjxta fenestram E,Ex Caroltjs primus Instante obsidione scloppopetr^ ictus tantum non Trajectus euit Die Octob. xxvii. mdcxliv. The above tradition of the bullet is probably not to be wholly dis- regarded, although the reference to a "siege " of the house is a mistake. See p. 174. Sir Thomas Dolman, who, as stated above, was the possessor of Shaw House when it was garrisoned for Charles I. After the last battle of Newbury his family adoj)ted the following motto : — " King and Law, Shouts Dolman of Shaw." It is traditionally reported that his motto arose through "King and Law," having been the password agreed upon the night prior to the battle, and that young Dolman announced it to the army by the command and in the presence of the King himself. It is also said that there was great slaughter in the garden, and that the King and Dolman fought side by side. Another story is that Dolman having forgotten the password, the King himself lustily gave it to the youth with direction to shout it to the soldiers, and that it had the immediate effect of causing such a volley of shot to be poured upon the Parliament men as routed them from Mr. Dolman's garden, and turned the battle on this side in the King's favour. From this circumstance the above motto was adopted by the family and is still retained. IMr. Dolman, who was knighted 2 February, 1660, was Clerk of the Privy Council, and M.P. for Reading in 1661. Sir Thomas Dolman was honoured by a visit from King Charles II., and his Queen, the Duke of York, (afterwards James II.), and many of the nobility, in the month of August, 1663, as appears from the following paragraph in The Intelligencer of September 7, 1663. "Thursday, August 27, that night their Majesties lodged at Sir Thomas Dolman's (about a mile from Newbury), where they were entertained, together with their royal highnesses, (and indeed the whole court) with a magnificence, prudence, modesty, and order to admiration, (their royal highnesses APPENDIX. 217 and most of the court lodging in the town itself), a good part of that evening his majesty spent in viewing the ground, where one of the Newbury battles was fought : calling to mind more particulars, occur- ring then to his memory (himself having been present in the fight), than can be imagined." Sir Thomas Dolman died 18 July, 1697, aged seventy- seven, and was buried in Shaw Church, where a memorial is erected to him. III.— RED HEATH AND EED HILL. Many opinions have been given as to the locale of this Heath and Hill, mentioned by Sir Edward Walker, Symonds, and other writers as the spot where the King's army held their rendezvous on their arrival in the neighbourhood of Newbury, Tuesday, 22nd October, 1644; and where Col. Boys received the honour of knighthood from the King. Some have placed it on Greenham Common, others at Snelsmore ; but the view now advanced is that the camping-ground was more probably on the Wash and adjacent Heath, where we still find the names of Red Heath and Red Hill (marked on the Plan). It appears that the Royalists were surprised to find the Parliamen- tarians in such close proximity on Tuesday, 22nd October, on which day their whole army, according to Cromwell (a most exact narrator of the campaign), was in the neighbourhood of Aldermaston, on the way from Basingstoke, with the intention (as he thought) of intercept- ing the King by a direct advance towards Newbury. The Earl of Manchester, however, much to Cromwell's chagrin, who objected to such a retrograde movement, marched the next day to Reading, giving the Royalists an idea that they retreated to avoid coming to an engagement (see above, p. 143). When it was found that the enemy followed so closely on their track, the divergence from the direct route to Newbury from Kingsclere, and the holding-back of the main body of the King's army on Red Heath, may have been advised as a pre- cautionary measure, in case the enemy should attack with his vastly superior force on the east side of Newbury; the King's position on the south of the town (which was occupied by a body of his horse), having the advantage of the River Kennet as a barrier to a surprise. Sir Edward Walker* mentions that " the King caused his army to be so quartered as to do but little duty, and yet to be secure from the rebels, who (it was thought) would not attempt iis in that place, and whence his army could not conveniently remove till he had done his endeavours for the relief of Basing, and that the Earl of Northampton, with that additional strength he took with him to Banbury, was returned. ' ' Again, a Parliamentary Journal of the 26th Oct. t tells us: — ''The King's forces have pulled up Thatcham bridge [over the Kennet between Thatcham and Greenham Common] to prevent our forces, if they can, following after them. Our Pioneers are laying the Bridge * ' "Walker's Hist. Discourses,' p. 110. t 'Perfect Passages in Parliament,' Oct. 26, 1644. 2 E 218 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. again, because the waters are too high to pass over the fords," intimating that the King's forces were on the south side of the Kennet. The 'Parliamentary Scout,' of the same date, is more explicit on the subject — "We were informed (it reports) that this day at night our armies were very near the King' s ; that we had declined the way of the Bridge, by which we should have entered on the south side of the King's powers, and that we had gone up by the Eivulet [the Lamborne] which runs by Donnington Castle, and had forded it above, and were got upon the north between Oxford and the King" [the hill before Shaw], Another Diurnal* says — "The west was open to the King to bring in provisions : that he pulled up some bridges about Thatcham to hinder the advance of the Parliamentary forces, by reason of which it was considered His Majesty had resolved to retreat westwards." On the evening of the 27th October, a Spy informed the Scout-Master G-eneral [Sir Samuel Luke], that the King's army had arrived at Newbury on Tuesday, and were "quartered on the heath," the King and his cliief officers lodging in the town, and that this day, about sun-setting, a party of horse left the camp to march to the relief of Banbury, f The most precise delineator, however, of this disputed rendezvous is Capt. Gr Wynne, who, in his 'Memoirs,' ch. xi, says — "The second Newbury fight we drew upon the same ground the enemy fought us upon the first battle," in which the Captain was also engaged. Gwynne mentions, in the next chapter, that the King marched with his army from the camp "faire and orderly through the towne into the spacious Spinham- lands," clearly indicating that the troops advanced from the south side of Newbury. Further on, in ch. xv., G-wynne adds — "And the Messenger that came to the King at Newbury, and brought him intelligence that Banbury was besieged, might as well at the same instant told him that on the other side of the town were three armies [that] waylaid him, then perhaps he had thought fit to keep on the same side of the town he was on, and plant some of his great guns against the town's end and the river-side, and let the enemy which pursued him fall upon his cannons' mouth (if they liked it) rather than he did fall upon theirs, and if the King did approve of so doing, then he could easily march away that night and send to his army at Oxford and to the Earl of Northampton to come and meet him where he thought convenient." From Kingsclere to Red Heath or Common the whole district was at that time one continuous heath, traversed by tracks and roads well enough adapted for the passage of an army, and enabling them to avoid the danger of marching through an enclosed country by narrow roads. There is apparently no reason why G-reenham Common, had it been the rendezvous, should not have been correctly described, as even in "Domesday Book" it is called "G-reneham;" and in all seven- teenth-century maps and documents contemporary with the war it is properly designated ; and, indeed, had the King's army been encamped here, their position could readily have been observed by the Parlia- mentarians on the corresponding heights at Shaw. The existence of the names "Red Heath" and "Red Hill" in the neighbourhood of the Wash certainly makes this locality more compatible with the narratives than other sites devoid of these distinctive appellations. Cromwell, in his narrative, describes the field adjoining Clay Hill as • 'Diary or Exact Journal,' Oct. 24 to 31, 1644. t Sir Samuel Luke's Letter*£ook, Egertou MSS. APPENDIX. 219 "Red Hill field," and this has induced a consideration as to the site of the King's camp on the 22nd Oct. being on that side of the town ; but this view does not prove tenable ; for on the near approach of the Parliamentarians on Friday, this hill was occupied by a detachment of horse under Prince Maurice, but not in any strength. lY.— DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNTS OF THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. From Sir Richard Bulstrode's ^^ Memoirs and Reflections on the Reign and Government of King Charles /." fp. 117, et seqj "I must not forget, that, after the defeat in Cornwall, the King staying sometime in the Western parts, Essex got together another army, and having joined with Waller and Manchester, was then so strong, that he hoped to take his revenge, and encompass the King, who was then going to Oxford, taking Newbury in his way. Essex, with his army, had made his rendezvous in Aldermarston Park, belong- ing to Sir Humphrey Foster ; from whence he came more suddenly upon us than we expected, which put us into some confusion. They attacked us at the same time in several places, with different success, being much stronger than we ; and when they could not prevail in one place, they attack' d us in another, hoping in the end to surround us : so that there was fighting at the same time in several places, in most of which the enemy prevailed, and we retired,- and were upon the defensive in all parts. Upon the west side of S^nne they pressed us very hard, where young Sir John Greenvil was posted upon a high rising ground with some foot and cannon, with a small retrenchment before him : General Goring being then on that side, and seeing the enemy intended to attack that place vnih. horse and foot, to prevent which, he resolved to charge their horse with the Earl of Cleveland's brigade, which was then dra^vn upon that side, Avhich was done accordingly. But the Earl of Cleveland engaging his person too far, was there taken prisoner, and then a great body of the enemy's foot advanced in good order upon Sir John Greenvil, forced him from that post, with the loss of some men and cannon, and himself wounded in the head with a sword in this action. Upon this success, the enemy pursued furiously, and the fight continued very hot, the enemy still advancing. Whereupon I was commanded by General Goring, to bring up the Queen's Regiment of Horse, which was then in reserve, commanded by Sir John Cansfield, who charged them so home, that he stopp'd their career, and obliged them to retreat, which gave some breathing time to our troops on that side ; but in this action Sir John Cansfield had one of his legs shot and broken: and while we were fighting on that side of Spine, Manchester with his army, attacked Mr. Doleman's house at Shaw, below the Castle, where there was a sharp engagement all that afternoon, and the garden was warmly attacked, and as well defended, by the Collonels Lisle and Thelwall, with the help of Sir Thomas Hooper's Dragoons, and a little before the evening. Sir John Brown with the Prince's regiment of horse, charged the enemy so briskly, that he obliged them to retreat up the 220 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. hill, with the loss of some colours, and two field pieces of cannon. Thus the fight continued on all sides till the night parted us. The King stayed in the field till midnight, that all our cannon were drawn off \\dthin the walls of Dennington Castle to their security, and then General Goring, witli most of the army, marched that night towards Oxford, without any alarm from the enemy, who durst not follow us, and the King went to Bristol. The next day, after our retreat, Essex possess' d himself very quietly of Newbury, making little doubt of taking Dennington Castle, which was thrice summoned, and as often stormed, but without success ; and finding it would be a work of time, and nothing was to be got there but blows, he retired with his army, and quitted Newbury; to which place General Goring soon came again, relieved the Castle with what was wanting, and brought off all our cannon." From the Diary of Sir Simonds B' Fives, Bart. (Earl. MS. 166, fol. 139*., 141, 141 b.J \_The co7itractions in the originals have been mosthj extended for the convenience of the reader.^ Ffor the much honoured William Lenthall, Esquire, Speaker of the Common's House. Sk. Wee gaue you an account in our last Letter of all our pro- ceedings in the west and returne to Bazin stoke where we met with his Exies and the Lord Manchester's forces, which happy vnion the Lord hath blessed. The King being at Newberry, vpon ffriday last we marched to Thatsham, and quartering beyond the Towne, that euening we disputed some hills for our securitie, which we gained. The next morning (being Satturday) wee drew vp our Armie within vew of Newbury, and obserued the King's Armie to stand betweene two Eiuers and the Passage betweene vs and Newbury strongly guarded and fortified, the difficulty of entering there was easily perceiued. We then (considering the King exx)ected present supplies from Prince Rupert, and that two brigades of his horse were gone to Banbury) thought it not fit to delay, and vpon aduise resolued to diuide our Armie, and to fall on two wayes. That night his Exies. and the Citty ffoot, with all our horse (but two thousand that were lef with the Earle of Manchester) marched on the right hand about 4 miles. The next morning (being the Lord's day) we aduanced early and by two in the afternoone we were within a mile and a halfe of the Towne vpon a large heath, then we fell into the Lands and hedges, and marched not aboue one quarter of a mile before we came in sight of the enemie, who had blocked vp our way with a strong brestworke, and in it fine peeces of Cannon, and for theire better advantage they were vnder the ffauour of Dennington Castle, theire best peeces being there. Vpon our approach theire cannon plaid hard vpon vs, the place being a narrow heath gaue not leaue to bring vp our body. The hedges hindred our horse very mucli. Theire Cannon made our ground very hott. There was no way left but to fall on viith. horse and ffoote, and that without delay ; which put in execucon (the sunne not being aboue an hower high), his Excies. ffoote (both officers and souldiers) went on vndauntedly, and fought neuer men better. Your horse aduaunced APPENDIX. 221 witli the ffoote, tlie enemies horse sallied out and fell vpon vs, wee beat them backe, tooke the Earl of Cleueland and his Liut- Colonell and two of theire standards. Your horse and ffoote fell in with the Enemie into theire workes, which put theire whole Armie into an extreame confusion ; many of theire men ranne through Newbury ; your's tooke theire fine peeces of Cannon and 4 besides, in all nine. The enemy had then beene totally routed, but for theire reserues of hedges and Brestworkes wcli held your's for long in dispute, that night preuented our ffuU prosecucon. Your's were come euen to the open ground where the last of the enemy stood. But it not being possible to distinguish ffreinds from enemies in the night, we gave oif shooting, wayting for the morning ; hoping to have found the enemy on that ground. In the night they drew all off to the Castle with carriages and cannon ; wee then expected to have found the ffoote and horse vpon the Castle hill in the morning, but wee quickly vnderstood that the Baggage was secured with the cannon at the Castle, and that the souldiers both horse and ffoote were shifting for themselues ; some informed us they went Wantage way to Oxford, others Wallingf ord, others Hungerford, others Winchester way, we found some went coirfusecUy all these wayes. The greatest parte went to WaUingford, and thither wee followed with as much speed as our horse and dragoones could march, soe fast that wee lost many horse. The less able ffoot marched very hard, the horsemen carrying theire Arnies, and gained Wallingf ord early in the morning. The King rode away from the battell about halfe an hower after sunn sett. He entered Oxford [The writers were misinformed; the King retreated to Bath.] early next morning, some say about one hundred and fifty of his best horse attended him. Had the sun but stood still two howers, he had found more seruants, but what God doth is best. The Earle of Manchester fell on for the gaining of his passage, but it jproued (answerable to our thoughts) very difficult, we heare -great comenda- tions of the gallantrie of his ffoote. The enemies workes were well fortified, and Master Dolman's house was to them insteed of a Castle, they went on wtli that resolucon and made theire approaches soe neare that the enemy kild some ffew braue officers and souldiers. The Citty Eegimts did well, of those killed dead on both sides, the number is vncertaine, some of yours officers and souldiers are wounded, but not very many. They tooke some of yours prisoners, amongst the rest Maior Vrry, but left all behind them. This morning in Towne and ffeild were taken about 1000 musketts, how many since we cannot tell. Wee heare that at the least 1000 prisoners were taken, wee tooke many straglers, some within a mile of Wallingford, we cannot for the present pursue them further that way, that passage being theires. Wee desire to give God the glory. He was our God at Cherrington in the spring, and now at Newbury in the ffall, we hope this is a great step to the Conclusion of the Kingdomes misery, we intreat that as God hath heard our and your prayers, soe wee may all returne him thanks. We are now at Newberry and will improue this mercy to our vtmost, the season of the yeare vnfitts vs for constant abiding in the ffeild, the pacience and suffering of our souldiers are beyond our expressions, wee presume your thoughts are vpon them. Lett vs but receiue your comaunds and we will obay as becomes Sr. Yor ffaithfuU seruants, Newberry, William Waller. 28 of Octob, 1644. Art. Hesilrige. 222 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. Nouemb. 12tli, Tewsday, 1644. That which ensneth was transcribed out of a coppy of a Letter sent from Sert- Maior. Gen. Skippon to the Earle of Essex, Lo. Gen., which coppy onely was read in the House of Commons, for the Earle of Essex sent not the originall, and the superscription of this Letter was not transcribed in the said Coppy. May it please Yor. Excy. What though our too late Intelligence and other interveening accidents the King's Army yesterday releiued Dunnington Catle and drew out his carriages thence, ere our fforces could be gotten together to the place viewed by some of vs the day before as fittest to interpose betweene the Castle and theire coming. In the afternoone he drew downe his horse, ifoot, and cannon vpon vs who conceived it most convenient to stand vpon our owne defence with all our fPoot and cannon within those sorry works which we had cast vp, but the same day the rather because our horse all held theire Eendevouz vpon Newberry Wash on the other side of the Towne, and having to march through the Towne before they came on that side where our ffoot were engaged, the enemy after he had placed 2 great and 2 small peeces of cannon charged vs with great resolucions both with horse and ffoot, and were, (blessed bee the Lord whom alone is our constant strength, refuge, and helper), most boldly resisted and repulsed soe that but once and at one place they came on where and when (being soundly pelted especially by the Musquetiers of Yor- Excies. Regiment) they soone recoyled, and being set further of by a forlorne hope of mus- quetiers commaunded by Capt. Horsey, presently drew of theire cannon and betooke them to an orderly retreat which could not bee interrupted as was wished, because ere night came too farre on, the horse were hardly enough come ouer to vs. All the ifoot stood theire ground very orderly and resoluedly expecting the enemies charging them on all sides, as they threatened by theire drawing vp. This day the King's Army marched leasurely and souldier like from the further side of the Castle (whither they retreated last night) Wantage way ; it is said to haue drawne vs out of our strength, and that he might the rather thereby haue had advantage (we being necessitated to march somewhat about to come at him because of the Castle), soe to haue got into Newberry behind vs, and soe to haue had the freeway to Basing, or to have forced vs to light with him vpon great disadvantage, he hauing the Libertie to choose his owne ground, where vppon it was resolued wee should march backe to Newberry, where all our ffoot forces lie miserably pesterred. And truly my most noble Lord, if there be not some speedy course taken for setling them in some fresh Quarters, where they may bee encouraged, recollected, and recruited, I very much feare that all the Armies will be very much weakened, and preiudiced, especially that vnder Yor. Excies. immediate com- maund. This I humbly presume in duty to acquaint yor- Excy. with and that (if it may stand with the publike seruice), Yor. Excy. would please, (who I know is most sensible of our condicon), to vse the best meanes Yor. Excy. shall thinke most meet that we might seasonably haue a good winter quarter at Eeading, if it might bee, being the most likely x)lace to get them together agaiue in. I humbly begg pardon for my great boldnes, and beseech the Lord to watch ouer Yor- Excy. for good, I euer remaine, Yor. Excyes. most humble and faithfull servant, Newberry, 10 of November, 1644. Ph. Skippon. APPENDIX. 223 Nouember, 13th Wensday, 1644. The liCtter of which the coppie ensueth was read in the House of Comons ou Wensday, the 13th of Nouember, 1644. Ffor the Comittee of both Kingdomes sitting at Derby House. My Lords and Gentlemen, According to Your Conimaunds we hold it fit to giue you a constant accompt of the enemies' motions. Yesterday they marched to Lamburne and Wantage, they carryed with them but two peeces of ordnance out of the Castle, and have left ten there for want of drafts to carry them so suddainely away. We heare this day that they are marched from Lambourne to Malborough. Some of our intelligence is, that a part of theire Army is gone by Wantage. As we heare more certainty of the enemies motions, we shall giue Your Lordships an account of it and expect your orders and directions, which we shall obey as Yor. Lopps. most humble seruants, E. Manchester. William Waller. W. Baleore. Art. Hesilrige. Newbury, 11th Nouember, 1644. From a MS. lelonging to the Earl de la Warr. (^^ Fourth Report of the Historical MSS. Commission,'^ ^ p. 297.^^ *' Oct, 30, 1644, Chas. Murry to Sir John Berkeley, "About three in the afternoon Waller and Essex came with a resolution to carry all clear before them, wliich they had not much failed of, if they had known how ill our horse and some of Prince Maurice's foot behaved The truth is, they had beaten our foot from the pase [pass], and routed most of our horse before ever they them ; but Lord Barrard [Bernard Stuart] that knows not how to retreat, charged so handsomely that he beat them back before they could see the disaster we were in ; it was dark, they could not pursue. Amongst us was nothing known but utter ruin and loss of all, so that the King was advised, with his son and some lords and three troops (having but one way to pass to go away) wliich my Lord Bar. commands, to get away and join Prince Rupert; so the King got to Dennington Castle by 9 at night, and thence took guides that brought him safe next day by night to Bath. It seems that after the King had gone, the army rallied and marched that night to Wallingford, and found that we lost not above 200 or 300 men, and six cannons lost at the Hill toward Hungerf ord : for at the other pass and at a house which Geo. Lile maintained we beat them sufficiently at the same instant that the rebels were so successful at the other end. No man could have done action of more courage or resolution than he did that day ; he kiUed above 500 and took two cannons," (2|pp.) 224 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. v.— NEWBURY CHURCH AS A PRISON AND HOSPITAL. At the time of the War, Newbury Church was used both as a prison and a hospital. There is a most interesting petition among the State Papers, in the Public Record Office, from John Bonwak, a distinguished sufferer in the Royal cause, and prisoner at Newbury. Shortly after the Restoration he sued for some compensation. The signatures attached to his petition are by men of note and name. He alleges that he had been Clerk of Reigate, and at the time of his petition was Rector of Newdigate, near Dorking, Surrey. He asks for letters mandatory to the University of Cambridge for his D.D. degree. He had left Christ's College, Cambridge (as many other University men did) in 1643, and entered the army to fight for the King. After the Second Battle, he savs, he was stripped, imprisoned, and almost starved to death in Newbury Church. Thence he marched barefoot to London House, and was there again imprisoned. He escaped, and ventured his life for the Restoration. Attached to his petition, as testimony, is the clarum et venembUe nomen of Jeremy Taylor, also that of Lord Mordaunt and eight others, who testify that, rather than comply with the ruling powers, he had refused several good livings, and, with his wife and six children, had remained on one of £20 per annum. In 1646, when the town of Newbury was in the hands of the Parliament, part of the garrison were quartered in the Church, which was subjected to all sorts of sacrilegious profanation and plunder. The lead was either stripped off the roof or demanded by the soldiery, and with other Church property was only preserved by the Church- wardens paying what was considered an equivalent value. Shortly after the death of Cromwell, at which time some little attention appears to have been bestowed on the Church, there are several entries in the Churchwardens' books of charges for clearing out the rubbish from the interior ; and for making good the injuries which the building had sustained during the preceding stormy and eventful era. YI.— BOXFORD. There is no parochial record at Boxford of any local incidents con- nected with the military operations which took place in the immediate neighbourhood during the years 1643-4-5; but in the Register for the succeeding year, there is the following entry — "Thomas Adams, souldier of Cap. Pym's troope was buryed April ye 5, 1646." In one of the later Parish Books the following curious memorandum is made : — " Thomas Dore declar'd in ye presence of us whose names are here- unto subscribed, that he remember' d in the OHverian rump times, when subjects rebell'd and did wh* seem'd right in their own eyes, that William and Ralph Coxhead pull'd down and carry' d away ye very well turn'd decent rails fixed and placed across the rising upper part of the Chancel to separate the Communion Table, and that they were carry'd by the above-named persons to one Edwd. Pokes APPENDIX. 225 [PPocock], (Schoolmaster), who then lived on Westbrooke side, who with his scholars triumph' d and rejoiced with those Puritans over this sacrilegious spoil and broke in pieces and burnt the same. Attested and declar'd in the presence of Anthony Tassell, rector, and Lucy Tassell, April 11, 1721."* There is a tradition preserved in the village that the Parliamentary soldiers, on more than one occasion, stabled their horses in the church. In this Church there is a monument, of neat design, to the Rev. Jas, Anderton, rector of the parish, who died in 1672. It has the appearance of marble, but it is made of clunch or hard chalk. The inscription describes Mr. Anderton as "a determined defender of the orthodox faith, even among the Rebels." This clergyman figures conspicuously in the 'Life of Oliver Sansom,' the Berkshire Quaker, with whom he had a long religious controversy. VII.— BUCKLEBURY. The Registers of this Parish (remarkably perfect from the first year in which such records were appointed to be kept, 1538) contain the following interesting entries. '* 1644, April 20. Wm. Basset being slaine by a souldier was buried. " ,, April 29. Richd. Buxie a soldier of the Kinge was slaine by a Parliament souldier at Chappell Row and buried. ** 1645, Oct. 29. Mr. Richard Warde a Lieutenant for the Parliament was slaine and buried. *' Dec. 9. Henry Hall being slaine was buried." Guy Carleton was Vicar of this parish during the troublesome times of the Civil War. Walker gives the following account of him : — " He was of a good and ancient family in Cumberland, and educated at Queen's College in Oxford, where he became successively Poor Child, Taherder, Felloiv, and Proctor. Upon the breaking out of the Rebellion he faithfully adhered to his Majesty's interest, and did him consider- able service. He was first driven from his rich living in the North ; afterwards, coming into Berkshire, he was patronized by Mr. Gravets • However much such excesses as were practised at this period are to be lamented, it must be borne in mind that the destroyers were acting in many instances against their will, and in strict accordance with an Ordinance which had passed the Houses of Lords and Commons, and which enacted that all altars and tables of stone, with candlesticks, basons. &c., should be taken away and demolished ; and also that all communion tables should be removed f. om the east end to the body of all churches and chapels; all rails before any altar or communion-table, likewise, to be taken away, and the chancel levelled; all crucifixes, crosses, images in and upon all and every church or churchyard to be destroyed; and none of the like "'superstitious ornaments" to be allowed in any church, chapel, or other place throughout the land The execut on of this order was delegated to the Churchwardens of each parish, with severe penalties in case of default. Exception only was made to the monument of any King, Prince, or nobleman, "which hath not been commonly- reputed to be taken for a saint." Complaints having been made to the Parliament of laxity in performing this Oroer of th^ House, a second Ordinance was issued to the Committee of each County, peremptorily enforcing the execution of the decree. See •Journals of House of Commons, Aug. 27, 1643, and Aug. 19, 16i5.' 2f 226 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. of Hartley Court, who presented him to the living of Bucklebury, in the right of his Guard Sir Henry Winchcombe, from whence also he was driven by the Tryers. After which he was likewise seized and imprisoned in Lambeth House, whither his wife secretly conveyed him a cord, by the help of which he let himself down through a window towards the Thames ; but, the cord not reaching to the ground, he was forced to drop from it, and in the fall dislocated one of his bones, but a boat being provided for him, he was soon carried off, and lay concealed during the cure, to pay for which his poor wife was forced to sell her very bed. After his recovery he fled beyond the seas to his Majesty; in the meantime one of his daughters was maintained by Mrs. Gravets ; and his wife and two other daughters were supported in London, partly by some charities, and partly by their own labour. Mr. Carleton returned with his Majesty from beyond the seas, became one of his Chaplains, D.D., Dean of Carlisle, Prebendary of Durham, and in 1671 was advanced to the Bishopric of Bristol, and in 1678 translated from thence to Chichester. He died in the year 1685." * Sufferings of the Clergy,' pt. ii. p. 214. The old Vicarage in which Guy Carleton resided while at Buckle- bury, a picturesque old house, is still standing, unaltered, at the western side of the churchyard. VIIL— THE LICENSE OF WAR. The follomng letter, from one of their own officers, will convey some idea of the excesses committed by the Parliamentary soldiers in this neighbourhood, and of the grievous evils attendant on a state of civil warfare, such indeed as were also attributed with perhaps equal truth by the Parliamentary party to the Royalist soldiers. From Col. Wm. Ball to Speaker Lenthall ; dated from Reading, March 1, 1645. "Sir, I have been 10 days at Reading upon the command of the House for the ordering of the recruits for the army, and find the employment very troublesome ; yet the service succeeding indifferently well answereth my paines and expectations; but that which exceed- ingly affects me is the continual clamour of the soldiers at Newberry and country people thereabout, the soldiers having almost starved the people where they quarter, and are half-starved themselves for want of pay, and are become very desperate, raging about the country, breaking and robbing houses and passengers, and driving away sheep and other cattell before the owners' faces. Every day bringeth more instances of these outrages. I shall mention only two amongst others the country people are now relating unto me. Some of the soldiers were driving away the sheep of Andrew Pottinger, of Wolhampton, a freeholder of £60 per annum, a very considerable man for the Parlia- ment, having a wife and 6 young children, who endeavouring to secure his sheep, the soldiers struck him on the head so that he became presently speechless, and dead within four hours, to the great grief and sorrow of the neighbourhood. Another party of nyne soldiers, armed with muskets, came yesterday to the house of Mr. Illsley, of Beenham, and broke open his door, to the great affright of his wife, he being APPENDIX. 227 absent, and hearing of it, got together his neighbours and so beat the soldiers that they were all wounded and not able to return to their quarters. I will give many more instances were it necessary, but this I thought fitt to discover unto you, that the soldiers and country people are all grown desperate, and continue one against the other that we are like to have little other than killing and robbery, if there be not a speedy supply of money for the soldiers. I beseech you to take the oppoitunity to acquaint the House with the condition of these parts, which under the most terrible time of the enemy was nothing so badd. I am sorry, I have such a badd subject, and shall therefore conclude, craving leave to subscribe myself, Sir, your humble servant, Will. Ball."* (Tanner MSS., Bodl. Libr., vol. 60-2, No. 491). Another case of outrage and pillage, in this instance countenanced by the Parliamentary officers, occurred at the house of the unfortunate Sir Humphrey Forster at Aldermaston: — "While Sir Humphrey, Sir Eichard Kingsmill, his lady, and some other friends, consisting of Mr. Francis Smith, Mr. John Wright, Mr. Thos. Grove, Mr. James Weare, Mr. John Awberry, and Mr. John Young, were quietly sitting at dinner, a party of 60 or 80 Parliamentary troopers, headed by three ofiicers, with swords drawn and pistols cocked, burst into the room, to the great terror of the company, having previously dangerously wounded the butler at the door, and demanded that all the apartments in the house should be showed them. This was readily granted by the affrighted Sir Humphrey, who was in terror of his life, one of the troopers telling him that the wounds his man had received ought to have been in his (Sir Humphrey's) heart. After examining the house, and taking every valuable article they thought worth their attention, these servants of the Parliament broke open the stable doors, while others searched the Park, and succeeded in carrying off eight valuable horses, which they fully equipped with saddles, bridles, &c. To prevent any alarm being given, four of the troopers were quartered in the house for the night. Capt. Waldron, Lieut. Seymour, and the other officer were all old offenders, having been previously bound over for robbery and other barbarities committed in the County of Wilts." (Tanner MSS., Bodl. Libr. vol. ^[, No. 199.) The 'Mercurius Aulicus,' the chief Oxford paper, of Thursday, Nov. 14, 1644, referring to the inhumanity of the Parliamentarians, recites the following instances of "thebloudy disposition of theKebells, as well to their own creatures as His Majesty's good subjects." But such tales as these must be taken cum grano salts, no story being too foul or too false to be refused a place in the Journals and pamphlets issued almost daily by both parties. "We have it most certainly advertised that the day after the last Newbury fight when His Majesty's army was drawn off, the good Earle of Manchester went into Mr. Doleman's house at Shaw (near Newbury), where he found some wounded souldiers. Colonell Gleorge Lisle (who so gallantly commanded those Guards the day before) left a note in the house, wherein he certified that certaine hurt men (some whereof were His Majesty's souldiers, the rest were prisoners, whom the Colonell tooke in the last fight), which could not at present be removed from that place, without hazzard of the poor men's lives. Therefore desired all * This was not the Capt. Ball, a famous Royalist freebooter, stationed at Reading in 1644, whom Sir Jacob Astley complains of in a letter given in Warburton's Prince Rupert,' vol. ii, p. 358-9. 228 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. gentlemen, officers, and souldiers, whom it might concerne, to aiford them protection and assistance, as he had done, for as muche as the poore men were nnable to help themselves. But the Lord Kimbolton [Manchester] and his Eebells, no sooner entered the house, but most barbarously they knockt these poore wretches' braines out, not merely his Majesty's souldiers, but their owne men also (for the bloody fit was now upon them), lifting up boards, breaking down wainscot, and pulling out the very barres of the windowes, pretending that His Majesty was concealed in that house, else (said they) the Popish Malignants would never have fought so desperately to maintaine it. Therefore they vowed to find him (the poore men' s blood not dry upon their hands), else they would put the Maister of the House to death. In conclusion (having left that house) they did all mischief imaginable to the owner of it (Mr Doleman), leaving him not so much as cloaths to put on, nor anything else either in or about his house. "Nor was their behaviour much better to their well-wishers there- abouts, for when that Faction, out of their zeal, brought them divers carriages loaden with provisions, these grateful Rebells took from them both their horses and carts in requital of the curtesie. And to make their accompt just, they took a farewell survey of their deare Society at Newbury, and for a Farewell plundered the town most equally, leaving them to contemplate the Reward of Rebellion, which is to be used worse by those for whose sake they have been most seditious." The following day, ' Mercurius Aulicus ' has another little incident to relate; — A royalist soldier (a Welchman*), having been taken prisoner, and finding no way of escape, promised to take up arms for the Parliament. On perceiving the Parliamentary army preparing to leave Newbury, and being at that time sentinel outside the prison, where some 30 royalist soldiers were confined, he gave the prisoners his lighted match and a horn of gunpowder, for them to put into the lock, and blow open the door. This was so well done that the Welch- man and the 30 other soldiers all came safe to His Majesty's army. *'Had the Rebells thus escaped," adds 'Aulicus,' "they would surely have said it was a miracle." The Anti-Royalist Journal, 'Mercurius Britannicus,' repudiates the "slander" against the Earl of Manchester "about the Shaw-house business; " and as to the breaking down of the wainscot, &c. in search for the King, satirically asks, "Has his ill-success in the late battle made a great king so little as to escape into a mouse-hole?" The following anecdotes will show to what peril property was exposed, which had to pass the Western road : — In January, 1645, a large company of Wiltshire carriers and clothiers having started from London, and entered into a composition with Sir John Boys, the governor of Donnington Castle that they should be unmolested in their route by the Royalists, on payment of £3 for each waggon, were proceeding on their way near Marlborough, when they were met and captured by a body of cavalry, who were marching from Basing House to Bristol. Col. Massey, the governor of Gloucester, having heard of the circumstance, and ascertaining that the captors as well as their booty were still at Marlborough, instantly drew out 200 horse, and came so unexpected!}^ ujDon them, that though they made a show of resistance at the entrance of the town, he drove them in again, took thirty prisoners and fifty horses, and restored the wains to the carriers. • There was a strong contingent of Welchmen in the King's service engaged at Newbury. APPENDIX. 229 Among the prisoners were Sir Anthony St. Leger, their commander, and Sergeant-Major Hyde. In the folloT\dng month of May, a party of "West-country clothiers obtained from the Royalist Governor of Devizes a pass for London, and entered into a bond to pay him more than £400 excise on the cloth they were to convey to London. As they approached Newbury, Sir John Boys sallied out on them and demanded the full amount in the King's name. No expostulations could save the poor clothiers, they were forced to raise the money in Newbury, and after some days started on their expedition. They had not gone far before some Royalist troopers from Wallingford Castle pounced upon them, seized their teams, baggage and all, and took them into the castle, where the governor, Col. Blagge, not only forcibly detained their goods, but suffered his troopers to search their pockets. The end of it all was that, after much vexation and delay, the carriers obtained their final discharge by consenting to pay an additional £10 on every pack of cloth, or leaving an equivalent in value. (Waylen's 'Hist. Marlborough,' pp. 220 — 2.) Notwithstanding what has been above stated with regard to the lawlessness of both the Royalist and the opposing forces, there is favourable evidence in another direction, in the following letter from a gentleman named Anthony Vaux, dated "Newburie, Nov. 4, 1642," to a friend in London. Giving an account of the proceedings of his Majesty's troops in Berks, the letter shows that, at least in the early days of the war, there was little demoralization among the soldiers of the Royalist army. "Rt. AVorthy Sir. Cannot but be obliged unto you for your con- tinuall favours unto me and my son Robert at Lincoln's Inn. I have understood by your letter the forwardnesse of the City of London, and the strength of men, ordnance, and other implements of engines in all places for the resisting of His Majesty's forces. I confess possession is IX points of the Law, so their managing the City with strength is a sure ground of resistance, but I believe to little purpose? for on Tuesday, I rid to Oxford and through the roads of His Majesty's army, which exceeds the number of your relation ; and having spent the day in the city, I came late to my house at Newburie, and there was no injury offered me by the way, or had forcibly taken from me the value of a point, though it hath been related that neither horsemen or footmen, waggon or carrier can travell about but the soldiers make them their prey. I assure you they are kept in good order without doing pillage as is related." The writer further adds that while at Oxford he saw at least 50 burials, and "in an hour's respite " as many more, which he concludes were some of those slain at the late fight (Edgehill). At his Inn, "the Catherine Wlieel," he chanced upon Secretary Nicholas, with whom he drank part of a pint of wine, and learnt the King's intentions, which he relates. He mentions that Reading has been pillaged of at least 5000 yards of cloth ; and that divers troops of horse and foot are billeted at Thatcham, besides great store at Newbury. Reference is also made to the issuing of the King's warrant for plate and money, for food and sustenance for the troops, which is being brought to His Majesty in abundance, the treasure being conveyed upon wheels, and the money coined while travelling. It is a most excellent invention, he says, of Leniell, his Majesty's engraver, who, it was thought, was cut off at the last fight at Kineton (EdgehiU). On the other hand, the following letter from Sir John Boys, 230 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. governor of Donnington Castle, to Prince Rupert, instances the insub- ordination in one of the King's regiments quartered in Newbury in 1644, and shows the difficulties exioerienced in maintaining military discipline and obedience at such a period of anarchy and disorder : — "Sr- when I wrott to yor Highness last, I was in hope I shook! have had no cause to complaynd of the Regimt- of Co-l- Nevills ; quartered in Newberry, but since I cannot prevayle wth the officers from keeping their souldiers from high mutenyes, I beseech yor Highnes to give som order herin, that farther Inconvenyencies may be avoyded. I shall only aquaint yor Highnes wtli one or two particulars ; wherby yov may Judge of their Caryadge in Generall ; three nighte since, the Cap*- of the watch going the Round, hearing a great uoyse (it being very late) went in desireing those troopers to be quiete in their quarters wcli they wear so far from, that they very much abused the Capt- of the watch, who comitted one of them to his Gaurd, and in the morning whilst he was gon to the Lieut. Co^l- to aquaint him of his souldrs. mis- demenor, and so to leave him to him selfe, an officer of the Regm*- wtli divers wtli him, came and forst the Gaurd and tooke the prisoner from thence w^th an addition, of mvch unbeseeming language, since wch tyme I being desired by divers to take notice of an Extreme leaude yonge fellow living in Newberry whoe entytelled himselfe Capt., whoa wtt his Companyons have comitted many outradges in the Cuntry by Robbing, and doinge all Villapies, hering he was in his Howse in the Towne, sent to apprehend him, but ther being a man of Lieut. CoU. Standishes in the howse wtt stood the officer and kept the door agst him, for wcti I sent for him to know why hee did soe, whoe was so Uncivill to mee in his langwage that I caused the Marshall to sett him on the horse, || for wct both the officers and souldiers have vowed a revenge, and this day (for no cause) a Trooper came to a foot souldr. and cutt his Head to ye Brayns soe yt the Chirurgeon assures me he cannot live, and presently after ther being many officers and souldiers together come to the Gaurd, and cryd draw all, for weeU have the foote out of the towne and though their Lieut- Coll- was by, wold not Chek any of them for this mutenye, as this gent. Capt- Taylor can fully satisfie yor Highnes. Sr- I shall only accquaint yoii wth one thinge more and so leave it to yor. Highnes, since my coming heyther I have often desired Lieut- CoH- Standish to keep out Gaurds and patroUs going, wch he absolutly refuses, and doth not keepe so much as a Sentinel at the To^vns end, and whether it being Contempt or having little use for it they have only once, or twice received the word from mee. Sr- I have spent divers years as a souldr- abroad, and am Confident I doe Competantly understand the Comaund his matie has heer pleased to instruct me wtb, and that I aught not to suffre any thing that shoold detrackt from the Comaund given me, it being an vndervalueing to his mate whoe gives it, but Sr- my Respecte and obedience to yor- Highnes leades me this way, beseeching yo^ ther may be some speedy course taken by yor- Highnes letter to them for the avoiding farther mutenys, and that they may asist us in watching, wth out web" those foote wcb quarter in Newberry cannot be safe, and I beseech yor. Highnes believe I shall never be wanting in my reddy obedience being, Yor. Highnes, Dennington Castle, Humblest servant, Jan. 30th, (? 1643-4). Jo. Boyse." (Add. MS., 18981. Rupert Correspondence, 1644, vol, 2, f. 15.) A wooden macliiiie used as a military punishment. A wooden horse. APPENDIX. 231 IX.— THE CAPTURE OF LADY FORTH, COUNTESS OF BRENTFORD. Extracted from ^^ Memoirs of some Actions in which Collonel John Birch was engaged, written by \_Roe'] his Secretary.''''* [The text where printed in italic type denotes corrections made in the MS. by Col. Birch. The original reading is given in the lettered foot-notes.] ********* **And the next day neere the evening, the Lord gave a great victory [the action at Newbury on the 27th Oct.], though the evill prosecution of it vexed you more then the other cheered you. How- ever, with a few other gentlemen that were there with you, and siiche as you could gather up, the pursuite was followed by you. « And after noone you being well wearied in the twoe nights and dayes (before) you dismissed your partie, and yourselfe wayted on by Maior Ashley, your regiment quartermaster, at that time, my selfe, returned late at night towards Newberry, where the head quarters were. And rideing easily 2 miles short of Newberry in the way from Hungerford, my selfe being before you, I heard a noise of horse and coaches comeing down the way towards vs.* Wlierevpon I giveing you notice, you stood a little, and presently affirmed it was the enimy ; for we had neither horse nor coaches at the head quarters. And they comeing on ffast, you had noe more time, but only to vtter these words, ' ' What ever you see me doe, lett the like bee don by you." This was about eightc of the clocke at night, the 30th day of October, 1644, the moone shineing pretty light : and instantly therevpon you turnd your horse in a broad cart way into the feilds on your right hand out of the comon road to Hungerford. And instantly after vs about three pikes length they come into the f eild the same way ; and comeing on fast some of them were got vp even with us; but your face being towards the west, and the moone being in the east -south -east, your face was soe shadowed thereby that they could not easily discover you ; but as, as I suppose, takeing you to bee of their owne company, passed on with their whole partie, consisting of 96 mounted men, three coaches and a coach-wagon, with 30 led horse, as you presently tould your quarter- master, saying you had counted them, which I was at that time in too great a feare to doe. And soe soone as the, last of this company was done, you turned backe your horse and wee likewise : and haveing gon backe about 40 paces, you mett on(e) of their company, to whonie clapping your pistoll you bid him hold his peace, and turne backe with you, else hee was a dead man ; which he did ; and carrieing him backe into the lane hee confessed hee was one belonged to the King's Lord Generall, the Earle of Forth, whoe then past by ; and those with • 'Military Memoir of Col. John Hirch,' edited by the Rev. T. W. Webb, M.A., F.R.A.S. Printed for the Camden Society, 1873. a " vnto Hungerford and 4 or 5 miles beyond " cancelled. b "the comeing downe" cancelled. The ' Mercurius Aulicus' of 4 Nov. 1644, states that Lord Forth escape 1 from the Castle during a dense fog, which had prevailed for some time. The route he took would appear to have been from the Castle to the village of Bagnor, where two fords were crossed, and tho Lamborne Road reached ; thence to Stockcross and int ■ the Bath Hoad by Gravel Hill. Here, probable it was, that the horses and coaches were heard " coming down. ' Distances given in those days when there was a wane of accurate information generally, are not to be relied on. c "eight" altered to -'10." 232 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. him are his guard ; and in the coaches his ladie and some other ladies, and the coach wagon was full of his bagadge, hee being come out of Donington Castle into which hee was forced to fly the night before in the battaile. Vpon this relation you instantly turned for vs and said, ' I knowe not in what way God will bring it about ; but I am very confident that all these coaches, horses and men will bee mine : nay they are mine. Come, therefore; lefts vse the meanes.' And vpon that rid sharply with your prisoner towards Newberry ; and comeing there gave this account to the Lord Manchester of what you had seen, and what danger you had escaped, desireing of him a partie of horse, and you would give him a good account of that company. But hee haveing long watched was so extreame heavy with sleepe, you could not have one ready word from him. Wherevpon you thought of another course, and that was, to goe to the houses where souldiers lay, and see if you could gett vp a partie by your perswasion, and for hopes of prize, which you failed not to promise them, as was after- wards well performed. By this meanes you gott vx3 47 resolved horse, whereof fonre xceare trumpeters ; and away you marched ; and vpon the way Lieftennant Caltroop asked you how many you judged the enimy to be : to which you replyed, ' They are 30 ' ; and then turned to your quartermaster and said ' If my heart f aile mee not, noe bodies else shall for the number ; ' and soe went on, your selfe being still a distance before to discover any noyse, and Likewise to finde the way they were gone ; which you did at every turneing with your bare hands, feelling in the darke which way the coach wheeles turned ; it being now about 2 of the clocke and sooiewhat darke. Thus wee went on about 16 miles; yourself e still before; and being at a turneing and feeling which way the wheeles had gon, one standing neere by you, at a gate, as you after informed vs, vsed these words 'What rouge is that there ? ' for then it was neere breake of the day and very darke. You doubting, as indeed it was, that the wyly generall might have left a reareguard, and hee might bee a centry, and you had better goe to him: possibly you might make good the gate till wee came vp (whoe weare eleven score yards behind) rather then lett him and his ffellowes come out vpon you ; which assuredly they would doe, if they were souldiers. Thereupon you takeing out your rapier and holding the point of it downeward vnder your rocket, went to the gate to him with your horse as hee was then in your hand ; your pretence being to aske him the way: but another comi;^^ out tod him clapt his face over the gate close to you, and though darke yet discovered you, and pulling out his sword, with an oathe, e not to be named, as you after informed vs, said you were a Roundhead : but yon being more readye then he believed, made such a hole in his skinn as brought a groane from him. The other starting, but not seeing the danger, you said with soe loud a voice, that wee heard, whoe were then a good icayf short, 'AVliat's the matter, gentlemen, doe you mean to abuse a man travelling on his way ? ' and Avith that more of them coming to the gate and endeavouring to fEorce it, you made it good with your rapier, vntill instantly the trumpet (whoe had charge what to doe some hours before) comeing up, and finding you engaged, sounded a charge. Wherevpon the partie rushing upon that reare- gaurd, being twelve, were quickly dispatched ; and from some of them that were then alive, you did learne that the Earle of Forth was then refreshing himselfe in that village : which soe sone as you herd, you d standiag by. e another (!) / 40 paces. APPENDIX. 233 guest, as indeed it was, that the enimy would take the alarum and drawe into a body, and then the business might be hazarded. And therevpon, instantly, the lane being pretty broad, and day appearing at the very instant, God was soe good as to direct the timeing of that business, jou 07'dered the former devision being nearer t\\ixtj prime men and horse to go on with you h the rest of the partie being almost tired were to march on 3 score paces after, and one trumpeter with them sounding a march ; and soe to continue till they had ffurther order from you. In this posture marcliing a good trott, the first partie, where your selfe was, entering into a little comon i in the midle of the village, there, close by you, was the Lord Ruthven draweing his men together, and at that very instant the trumpets that were behinde sounded a march and you cried aloud, ' ' Gentlemen, letts not stay for the body of horse but fall on them instantly;" which at a high trott was done and they presently routed, haveing not draune 40 together. This was noe sooner done, but, musket shot distance, as many more, whoe had then taken the alarum, were then gott together. Some of your partie seeing them said, 'Looke, Sir, backe yonder is a partie more.' You replied, 'The same are rallied againe, down with them:' and imediatly vpon a full gallop you charged them. During theis 2 charges all the coaches and wagon were runne away. ; This busines being pretty well over, and all that were in those twoe parties fallen or taken, with the generall' s amies in his trumpet ; A none escaped but the Earl himselfe, Collonel Fielding, and three more, who by reason of the goodness of their horse, after they had mett with some blowes, leapt of the comon into the closes, you being between them and the lanes end, by which meanes they escaped. Your selfe presently, and about twelue^ more whoe were able, pursued after the coaches, and haveing gon at a great speed four or five miles you were close at them in a village, where God was wonderfully seen for you. For a consider- nble part of the Queen's regiment of horse quartered then there, who could time enough to the ffight: which you discovering by seeing souldiers stir hastily about, presently cried to the people as you were vpon a hard speed after the coaches, ' Gentlemen, lay out quarters in this towne presently for my Lord Manchester's regiment of horse : ' and further called loud to your quartermaster, whoe then was most gallantly as hee had been all the morneing at your backe, sayeing, * Quartermaster, in the next village let Sir WiUiam Waller's regiment quarter.' Vpon this and heareing the trumpets, whoe were then farre behinde, sound, all the souldiers there, three times the number of your partie, runn away ; and before our faces, some ridd out back wayes : most footed it into the woods ; and you had an opertunity to ffaU on the partie with the coaches, whoe never offered to strike, but cried for mercy; not one man of them escaped; coaches and coach wagon and all the ladies taken, with 57 men brought prisoners ; and of their whole partie but the 5 aforesaid escaped. Of horses of theirs, and those tooke from the Queen's regiment flieing as aforesaid you brought away 107, besides twenty one horse that were on the coaches and wagon. And now being 20 miles from Newbury, and in the enemies country, yet it pleased God soe to bless you that you brought safe away that day all the prisoners to your quarters neere Nuberry ; although your partie was soe small that you were forced some times to g drew out. h for a forlorne ; and. t towne. "and a partie with them," cancelled. k i.e. the flag attached to the trumpet. / 20. 2g 234 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBUEY. put one man to guard 3 prisoners. This mercy of God, though I doubt not but you have it in perfect memory, yet his hand being soe plainely discovered in it, I could not omitt it, and hope the time you spend in reading of it will not seem long." Note. — It is impossible to speak with certainty as to the place where the carriages were captured ; but from the distance stated, Marlborough would seem lo be the town referred to; for it is about 20 miles from Newbury, and at that time was occupied by a body of the King's troops. It is also related in one of the Diurnals, that no sooner had the King passed through Marlborough in his flight from Donnington Castle, than a small company of the enemy came dashing through the town, enquiring which route the King had taken Now although this adventure has been thus minutely recited, and Birch, by revision and correction, assented to every item, and claimed to himself the credit of the whole, yet it is curious to find a competitor starting vip with an opposite claim, and appropriating to liimself the origin and management of the exploit. A Lieutenant- Colonel Thorp, vindicating his character from some aspersions in the ' Mercurius Aulicus, ' brought out in the ensuing spring a very different version ; and his account introduces us to the obscure names of some others of the party. His case is thus stated : — "At the last fight at Newbury he was commanded upon the guard betwixt Newbeury and Dennington Castle after the fight ; he then receiving intelligence from Col. Birch, drew some fourty men and horse from the guard; so he desired Col. Burch to go along with him ; there were under his command, officers as foUoweth: Cap. Draper, Cap. -Lieutenant Evans, Cornet Mathews, Cap. Draper's Cornet ; the intelligence was, that my Lord Euthin, the King' s G-enerall, his Lady, and divers more with him [had escaped]. So they pursued them some eight miles, where they tooke the General's lady, and some prisoners of quality with her, three coaches, and about fifty horse and men, a wagon with much goods in it ; so Lieutenant-Col. Thorpe sent the lady and the prisoners to- wards Newbury, with Col. Birch and some of the troopers ; the said Lieutenant- Col. pursued the Generall some nine miles further, and rid in view of him the most of that way, but he having but some two men with liim, and his horse being weary, he returned back to Newbury, where he and the rest of the party divided the spoile. This was done without the losse of a man. This is the true relation of this piece of service." ' Kingdom's Weekly Intelligencer.' April 8, 1645. Note by the late Eev. John Webb, M.A., F.S.A. to the 'Military Memoir of Colonel John Birch,' p. 187. X.— DONNINGTON CASTLE. "Capt. Knight's Eelation of the Siege of Denington."* "Wee are Come to December 1645, and Dulbere wth Cromwell hauinge Surprissed that same housse and garrisson of Bassinge, the sd Dulbere w^h too Eeagiments of horsse and thre of foote marches into Newbery, of whose S^- Jo. Boys beinge advertissed fires Dening- * 'ClareBdon State Papers,' No. 2062 ; Bodleian Library. APPENDIX. 235 ton towne and other Ajatiente villages,* as was comanded by the Lds. and Comisell at Oxford, hope is of A noble facultie. his matie and the Lds. at Oxford conceaued good hopes as expectinge A brave Eesistaunce to be made by these men who in A former seege hade done soe gallantly, and of the noble gonerner Sr- Jo. Boys, A psone Exam- plarye for vallore and fidillitie. Dulbere being thnse prevented of his qnarters of Denington towne, -wch was wtliin halfe A mile of the Castell, and also of other Ajatiente Villages and bowses, logos his partie of foote in Newbery, and quarters his horsse in the Ajatiente villages, soe y* Denington Castell may bee swer was to be sent by the Bristol post, addressed Mr. R' ger Knight, junior, Greenhame, neareXewberry, to be left with the postmaster at Speen- hamiand. Mr. Roger adds, that he shall be glad to know if questions can be solved by letter, as there were div' rs persons of his acquaintance in the neighbourhood of iNewbury, "who have had experience " and desire to employ the Astrologer's art, but cannot make the journey to London. He encloses an lis. piece for Mr. Lilly's •'present paines." This letter is iiated "iSept. 8, at halfe an hour after 4 in the aiternoon," but the ye ir is not given. As reference is made to previous visits to the Seer in 1647 and 48, it was probably written Sept., 1646. at which time Roger would have been 30 years old (Ashmolean M-*. 423, 130. Kibl. Bocil.) Mr. Roger Knight, junior, appears to have overcome his " unsettled conditio ," as in 1673 he is descri*'ed, in hlome's ' Britannia,' as residing at his paternal estate at Greenhani; but the sequel to his love storj' is not recorded. Lilly, § in relating his astrological career, mentions that he was well acquainted with the "speculator" John a Windsor, a scrivener, t^ometime living in ]Newbury. This Windsor, he says, was club-fisted, wrote with a i^en betwixt both his han'ts, and was much given to debauchLry, so that at some time- the Daemons would not appear to the "Speculator" ; he would then suffumigate ; sometimes, to vex the spirits, he would curse them, and fumigate with contraries. Upon Windsor's examination before Sir Henry Wallop, knt. he said that he once visited Dr. Dee, in Mortlake, and out of a book, which lay in the window he copied out that call which he used when he invoked.— It was that which near the beginning of it hath these words. " Per virtutem illorum qui invocant nome?i tuum, Hermi'li, mitte nobis tres Angelas,'^ ^c. Windsor, Lilly adds, "had many good parts, but was a very lewd person. My master, Wright, know him well, and having dealings in those parts (Newbury) made use of him as a scrivener." * The following incident in connection with the siege of the Castle, is related in * Perfect Occurrences of Both Houses of Parliament and Martial Affairs,' for the week ending 11th March 1645-6. " A partee of Dolbier's men, surprised 9 of Donnington men [of the Castle garrison] in BagnoU [Bagnor] drinking, amongst whom some Officers, Colonel Boise the Governour hearing of it, sent out a partee, who set fire on four or five houses in BagnoU [ Bagnor] to be revenged for the losse of his men." t This relation was probably written from memory and the events occurring in March 1645-6, are, from some fault in the recollection, said to have taken place the following month. % The maye poolle. Theve is no traditional spot where a Maypole stood in the village of Donnington, but we know that the Maypole had its place in almost every village equally with the parish church and the parish stocks, and there is no reason why there should not, have been a spot appropriated for this homely May-d-iy pageant in one of the fields adjacent to the Castle. Prom Capt. Knight s descrip ion, it would appear ihat the maye poole was standing during the si' ge m 1616, but 'his does noi seem very probable as Parliament hid, on the 6th Aprd, 1644, ord-ined that 'all and singular Maypol s that are or shall ba erected >htll be taken down," and had enforced tueir decree by penalties. Now as the "May-pole hill" is likewise referred to in Major Ryves' letter, printed on a subsequent page, the probabilities are § ' Hist, of his Life and Times,' p. 145. 240 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. not degeste such Ruffe pceedings of the Enemie, Commands a sallie wth horsse and foote at heighe nowne, the Enemie leyinge careleslj in thire trenches, not suspectinge a sallye, for yt they sawe the gatte shute and the brige dra^^aie * but in this they were very much deceaved for Sr. John had A privatte Sallye portte made wttin the bulworke trenche and pallissathes filed vpp wtli earthe, wcli now hee clered and through it passed his horsse and foote vndiscovered, this partie was Comanded by Capt. Donne who soe sodenley ifell vppon the Enemy that they beate them out of thire works, killed ' Aboue 80 personse vpon the place, brought Awaye Above (60) prissoners (4) Collores and many hundred Armes. Dulbere stricked [? stricken] wtli this losse marches wtt all his forces, horsse and foote to Regaine his trenches wch he deed wtliout disputte, and the nexte daye plants A morter pece, and the same daye shootte 17 vppon the Castell, An oold weake Rotten howse yt w^'^ this one dayes worke was well ney all shattered to peces, however Dulbere knew he hade to deall with A braue Enemie and hime selfe hauinge Received soe many Rubes from the Castillians was in disgrace with the Pliamt Assayes to gaine Sr. Jo. and the garrison by treatey, and to that purpose writts Sr- John that the L. Hopton hade giuen vpp his Armey in the weste to Generall Fairefex, the L. Astley was latly Routed att Stowe of the owlde weste [Stow-on-the-Wold], Chester surrendered, and yt hee could expecte no Reeliife, thire fore hee Advised hime to yealde betimes, whilles hee may be able to give hime Conditions, and yt this Advice pceded from hime of mere lone as to him selfe and soe many gallant men w^-li him, to whome hee bore much honor and love, finally that this was done agt most of the wills of his officers. Sr- Jo. called A Councell of Warre, Comunycatts Dulbere' s I're [letter] wtt his officers, in sume the Resoulte of this Councell was not to beleve Dulbere vppon his beare worde, but if it were soe yt the sd Dulbere should be moued to grante passes to too gent, of the Castell to gooe to Oxforde to the Kinge, to Acquainte hime wtt the Condition of the Castell. and to knowe his maties Reassollution, in fine, this Dulbere Curtiously granted, and Capt. Osborne and Capt, Done, t too noble gent, were sente to his mati© to Oxford, who sente to Sr. Jo. Boys that hee should gette the beste Conditions hee could for him selfe and his, and yt if possiblely hee could, he should marche of to Oxford and bringe of ML the Artillery of the Castell wtli hime. Vppon the Returne of those gent, a ply [parley] was helde with Dulbere where in the Conclusion was to surrender the Castell. certainly in favour of a May-pole having stood near Dalbier's intrenchments, which are easily approachable by a sunken road from the village of Donnington. It has been suggested that an old Maple tree standing just within the park gates and near the place indicated by Capt. Knight, at the angle of Dalbier's intrenchments may have been the object which the Parliamentary soldiers fell " a digeinge vnder." Tut this conjecture is now scarcely tenable when we find a second authority explicitly mentioning the " May -pole hill," and further Stubbe, a cuntemporary writer in describing May-day customs uses the term May-pole in almost identical form as Capt. Knight. He says, " Their cheefest jewel they bring from thence (the woods) is their 3Iaie poole." * The gate here referred to appears to have been the palisaded gate closing the passage through the earthworks; and the bridge was likely to have been opposite to the existing entrance because that was most sheltered from the enemy's artillery, and the bridge was probably construced to cross the ditch of the field- work that surrounded the battered building t In addition to these two gallant officers, the name of another of Sir John Boys' associates in defence of the Castle is preserved to us. — Mr. Robert Stradlmg, of the ancient family of the Stradlings of St. Donats, Glamorganshire. A biographical notice of this officer is given on a subsequent page . APPENDIX. 241 "The Castellians were to marche Awaye to Wallingeforde wth bagge and baggage, musketts cliargd and primed, maclie in Coke, buUate in mouthe, drumes beatinge, and Collurers ffleyinge. Every man taken wth iiime as much amnnishion as hee could Carye. As honourable Conditions as Could be given. In fine, thus was Denington Castell surrendered." XI. — The following Letter is of considerable interest as a further EXPLANATION OF AN EpiSODE IN THE SlEGE OF DoNNINGTON CaSTLE, of WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY HAD A RoYALISt'S VeRSION IN THE PRECEDING RELATION OF THE SlEGE BY CaPT. KnIGHT. It is entitled— " Newes from Bennington Castle or A true Copy of Major William Rives his Letter, in Vindication of himself e and others. Wherin is related the Condition of the Leaguer before it, and the manner of the late Sallie from the Castle, with what losse was on both sides. Licensed and Printed according to Order. Printed for Henry Twyford, at the signe of the three Daggers in Fleet Street, neare the Temple. Aprill, the first, 1646." * "Newes from Dennington Castle, or a Copy of Major Rives his Letter, &c. Sir, It was my fortune yesterday to bee very much ingaged, but it pleased God to give me deliverance. On Tuesday last wee drew forth of this Towne [Donnington], and faced the Castle on the Hill next Shaw, where we sent them a Summons, which was not totally refused, but they desired three dayes time to send to his Majesty. This was taken as dilatory, and that night to begin the siege, I had orders with three Companies of mine, which were my owne, Captaine Doves and Captaine Knowles, and with Major Blagrave's four Com- panies to begin the works, and to raise a redoubt on the side of the May-pole hill, t which was performed that night without the losse of one man. The next morning we began to heighten our Worke, but about seven of the clock the enemy observing our Horse -guard drawne off, fell out on us most desperately with all their Horse, and neere all their Foote, and beat in our by-guard, which was to discover cleere to the Castle. Our guard was scarcel}^ in to give us allarme, but their Horse were in with them, and ere we could have any notice fired their PistoUs on our men in the pitt where they were, which I had stickadoed round; to prevent the falling in of their Horse. At the same instant their Foot fell on to the other side of us, and beat in our Pyoniers, who, retreating in some disorder to their Amies, • The autho;* is indebted to the courtesy of Messrs. Pickering & Uo. 66 Hay- market, London, for a copy of this tract, t See Note on "The May-pooUe," p. 239 ante. 2h 242 THE SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY. caused some distraction amongst our men. But of my owne Company of G-ray-coates being next hand, I rallyed some suddenly, thinking to have manned our imperfect redoubt, but ere I could doe it, their Horse were in it ; out of which I dra"«dng my selfe some musketteers to the corner of it, beate them out, and killed one of their Horses. As soon as my Ensigne saw that, hee fell on the man with his sword, and either killed or wounded him ; But their Horse and Foot comming on, he was forced to retreat to his Colours. And the Enemies Foote possessing the trench of our Eedoubt next the Castle under shelter of our Worke, fired on us in the x)itt, where their Horse could not breake in. These did I by about twenty Musketteires of my own Company beat back, but they being well seconded, came on againe, and fell in from the hill side of the pitt, whiles their Horse fired on the other side which was open. This put our men in such a maze, being so suddenly, that they in the reere runne away in confusion, which occasioned my men being diserted to run also. My owne Company which were formerly of the King's party fought very wel, knocking it out at Musket stocke, till they broke many of their Muskets. And one of my Corporals beat a Trooj^er from his Horse with his Musket, and tooke his Sword, but the man was rescued ere he could kill him ; we got two Carbines, and some Pistolls of such as were killed, or wounded by us. And since I understand by some of my wounded Soldiers prisoners (came off since) wee killed and wounded as many of theirs, as they of ours, only the losse of our Colours, which might well have beene saved, had there beene any Horse-guard, or that Major Blagraves' men (though I cannot impeach him in his person) had seconded me as they might, but run first. At the crosse Lane neere Bennington towne I forced some men to stand and fire, which forced the enemie to retreat in hast. And as soone as my men got more Ammunition, having spent their owne on service, I advanced againe to my post, and almost finished the Eedoubt ere night. This night Colonel Martin finished it, and drew a line from Dennington Lanes to shelter our approach, and this night or tomorrow we plant our Cannon and great Mortar. And although we have a desperate Enemie, who the first night shot, and [in] one sally fought like divels, yet I hope we shall be able suddenly to give a good account of the place. And had all done like the gray-coates (however some say they run away to the Castle) they never durst attempt us. And truly my Ensigne with them fought gallantly ; And of six only of them taken, there are foure wounded, and yet prisoners in expectation of exchange. Ere long I presume you will heare that wee shall repaire our honour, which is greater than our losse. I am, Your humble servant, From the Leaguer before Dennington, William Eyves.* the 26 of March, 1646. Finis. The redoubt and temporary work thrown up by the besiegers shortly before the surrender of the Castle, so fully described by Major Ryves t The name of this officer, by a typographical error, is spelt " Rynes " iu the pamphlet from which a copy of the Articles for surrendering the Castle was transcribed, and hence is so printed at p. 209. It should read " Major Ryves," not " Rynes." SKIRMISH AT DONNINCTON CASTLE, 1646. \ D aZbier's Me cud. \^_^: Casfle Farm ■8. «- ^. \ % #^, DitcJv. IJ, V'/IHIIIHH||((III1I1MHII1M ? Workinq k: i Parly ^ ■'i.** ^^ — -,5; • ,&Picneers ^', ''disorder. [} B ",m' '%D n- ^.-^mBrevMiL fr^ Musketeers. 11 [> ^:> ^' '.V .' -'disorder. Vr 'Si-: D Guard. faUzruf A.. PH'btickadoed/ roundJ.' ^.Redoubt. C . Gvuh BaMery. D. Second. position of "Jforse" Royalists r— H ParUamentaricuns Hia Whiteman .S-. Ba£E>Zi<:A