to march on London, when proposals of peace were sent to him, and conferences appointed to be held at Windsor, (Nov. 11,) but he still advanced, possessed himself, after a sharp fight, of Brentford', Nov. 12, and on the following day came to Turnham-green, but was there faced by Essex, and, without fighting, retired to Colnbrook, house, nor plunder my goods; but soldiers are not easily governed against their plunder, or persuaded to restrain it; for there being about 1,000 of the king's horse quartered in and about the house, and none but servants there, there was no insolence or outrage usually committed by common soldiers on a reputed enemy which was omitted by these brutish fellows at my house. They spent and consumed 100 load of corn and hay, littered their horses with sheaves of good wheat, and gave them all sorts of corn in the straw; divers writings of consequence, and books which were left in my study, some of them they tore in pieces, others they burnt to light their tobacco, and some they carried away with them, to my extreme great loss and prejudice in wanting the writings of my estate, and losing very many excellent manuscripts of my father's and others, and some of my own labours. "They broke down my park pales, killed most of my deer, though rascal and carrion, and let out all the rest, only a tame young stag they carried away and presented to Prince Rupert, and my hounds, which were extraordinary good. They ate and drank up all that the house could afford; broke up all my trunks, chests, and places; and where they found linen, or any household stuff, they took it away with them, and cutting the beds, let out the feathers, and took away the ticks. They likewise carried away my coach, and four good horses, and all my saddle horses, and did all the mischief and spoil that malice and enmity could provoke barbarous mercenaries to commit, and so they parted. "This," he concludes, "is remembered only to raise a constant hatred of anything that may in the least tend to the fomenting of such unhappiness and misery." V Among other prisoners taken there was John Lilburne (see p. 397), who conducted himself so violently to Prince Rupert and others, that the prince threatened to put him to death, but was deterred by an intimation of reprisal from the earl of Essex. "The city bands marched forth very cheerfully under the command of Major-general Skippon, who made short and encouraging speeches to his soldiers, which were to this purpose: Come, my boys, my brave boys, let us pray heartily and fight heartily; I will run the same fortunes and hazards with you. Remember the cause is for God, and for the defence of yourselves, your wives, and children. Come, my honest brave boys, pray heartily and fight heartily, and God will bless us.' Whitelock, who was present, further says, "The city good wives, and others, mindful of their husbands and friends, sent many cart-loads of provisions, and wines, and good whence he retreated through Reading to Oxford, arriving there Nov. 29. A tax of one-twentieth of every one's estate ordained by the parliament for the support of the war, Dec. 13. The eastern counties associate against the king, under the command of Lord Grey of Warke. Goring lands in Yorkshire with supplies from Holland, and the war is carried on fiercely between the earl of Newcastle y and Lord Fairfax 2. A.D. 1643. A negotiation for peace is carried on at Oxford, at intervals, from Jan. 30 to April 15, but without any result. The king establishes a mint in New Inn Hall, Oxford, things to Turnham-green, with which the soldiers were refreshed, and made merry; and the more, when they understood that the king and all his army were retreated." The associated counties, as they were called, were, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Lincoln, Cambridge, Huntingdon, and Hertford. The earl of Manchester (formerly Lord Kimbolton) afterwards com. manded their levies, having under him Oliver Cromwell. Their pro ceedings were regulated by an ordinance, Jan. 16, 1643. William Cavendish. He was soon after created a marquis, but at length, disgusted by the roughness of Prince Rupert, he suddenly abandoned the contest, after the battle of Marston-moor, and withdrew to the continent. He returned with Charles II., was made duke of Newcastle, and died Dec. 25, 1676. Lord Fairfax was assisted by his son Thomas, who became the chief commander of the parliamentary army when new modelled. Thomas was born in 1611, was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, and had served in the Netherlands under Lord Vere. Being a rigid Presbyterian, he resigned his command in preference to leading the army against the Scots, and lived in retirement until 1660, when he actively exerted himself to forward the restoration of Charles II. He died Nov. 12, 1671. Whitelock was one of the commissioners, and he gives this testimony as to the king's abilities: "In this treaty the king manifested his great parts and abilities, strength of reason, and quickness of apprehension, with much patience in hearing what was objected against him; wherein he allowed all freedom, and would himself sum up the arguments, and gave a most clear judgment upon them. His unhappiness was, that he had a better opinion of others' judgments than of his own, though they were weaker than his own; and of this we had experience, to our great trouble." where the plate of the colleges is coined for his use b. The exchequer is also settled at Oxford, Feb. 13. The queen lands at Burlington with supplies, Feb. 22, but is unable to join the king until July 13. The earl of Essex takes Reading, April 27, and Sir William Waller d is successful in the west. The Cornish men take arms for the king. They defeat the earl of Stamford (Henry Grey) at Stratton, May 16, and advance into Somersetshire. b This mint continued in operation until 1646. One remarkable coin struck there (a crown-piece, of the type styled Exurgat money) is represented above. The Commons in consequence proposed an impeachment against her (May 22), but the Peers declined to entertain it. a He was born in 1597, of a good Kentish family, was educated at Oxford, and had served with great reputation in the German war. On his return to England he was, through family quarrels, fined in the Starchamber, and, becoming a member of the Long Parliament, he was one of the earliest to take up arms. Waller was considered the rival of Essex, but was, like him, removed from the army by the Selfdenying Ordinance; as a leader among the Presbyterians, he opposed the designs of the Independents, was impeached by them and imprisoned, in 1648. He was again imprisoned as a royalist after the death of Cromwell, but was soon released, and sat in the parlia ment that recalled Charles II. He died Sept. 19, 1668. A plan to disarm the militia of London, and let in the king's forces, is detected and punished, June, July. Colonel Hampden is mortally wounded in a skirmish at Chalgrove, near Oxford, June 18; he died June 24. Sir William Waller is defeated at Lansdown (near Bath), July 5, and at Devizes, July 13. Bristol is surrendered to Prince Rupert, July 27. London is fortified by order of the parliament. Commissioners from the Scottish parliament arrive in Londong. The king forms the siege of Gloucester, Aug. 10; it is relieved by Essex, Sept. 6. Essex retires towards London; he is followed by the king, and attacked at Newbury, Sept. 20, but beats off the assailants h. The Scottish Covenant, with some modifications', is • Edmund Waller, the poet, who had been one of the commissioners at Oxford, was the principal contriver, but he had the baseness to betray his confederates, and thus saved his own life, being allowed to go into exile. Sir Bevil Grenville, the commander of the Cornish troops, was killed here. Lord Maitland (afterwards earl of Lauderdale) was the principal. h The earls of Carnarvon and Sunderland, (Robert Dormer and Henry Spenser,) and Lord Falkland, fell in this battle. Essex's horse was totally routed, but his foot, principally composed of the London trained bands, stood firm, and enabled him to retire without the loss of a single gun. This celebrated document, which now received the title of the Solemn League and Covenant, differs in many respects from that of 1638 (see p. 400). It consists of six articles, by which the subscribers bind themselves to endeavour the preservation of the reformed Church in Scotland, and the reformation of religion in England and Ireland, “in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, according to the Word of God, and the example of the best reformed Churches;" to extirpate ". popery, prelacy, superstition, heresy, schism, profaneness, and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound doctrine and the power of godliness;" to preserve the liberties of parliament and the king's person and authority; to solemnly received by the parliament at the assembly of divines, Sept. 25. The parliament make a new great seal, in lieu of the original, which is in the king's hands, October. The marquis of Newcastle defeats Lord Fairfax at Adwalton-moor, near Bradford, and penetrates into Lincolnshire, when his troops refuse to march further south. Sir John Hotham and his son are committed to the Tower, on a charge of deserting the cause of the parliament1. The merchant adventurers lend £60,000 to the parliament, when fresh privileges are granted to them by an ordinance. The marquis of Ormond agrees to a cessation of arms with the Irish, Sept. 15; many of them in consequence come into England to the assistance of the king, November. Sir Henry Vane and four others appointed commissioners to the Scottish parliament. The earl of Warwick is appointed governor and discover and punish all "incendiaries, malignants, or evil instruments;" to preserve "a blessed peace between these kingdoms;" and to assist and defend all who enter into the covenant; "all which," say they, "we shall do as in the sight of God." This body, which consisted of 120 divines, with 30 lay assessors, was constituted by an ordinance, June 12, 1643. It could only debate on matters submitted to it by the parliament. Milton and other cotemporaries speak in very disparaging terms of both the learning and integrity of these divines, who were the paid servants of the Houses; (their allowance was 4s. a-day ;) and who, though fierce declaimers against pluralities and non-residence, sought eagerly for every valuable preferment. * See p. 424. They placed it in the keeping of two lords and four commoners. 1 They were found guilty, and were executed early in 1645. |