PART I. Reverend Mr. RichardBaxter. 43 Edge, threemilesfrom Ridelerminfter : TheBrigades in Ridderminfter not knowing but all the King's Army might come that way, marcht off to Worcefter,and in hale left a Carriage or two with Armsbehind : force of the Inhabitants hafted to the King's Soldiers; and told them all, which made them come into the Town and take thole Arms: The Fury of our own Rabble, and of the King's Soldiers was filch, that I law no fafety in flaying at home : The Civility of the Earl of Efféx's Army was fuchs that among them there was no danger ( though none of them knew me ) : And there was filch excellent Preaching among them at Wortafter , chat I flayed there among them a few days, till the marching of theKings Army occafioned their re- move. Upon theLord's Day followingI preached at Aleefter for my Reverend Friend Mr. Samuel Clark : As I was preaching the People heard the Cannon play,and per- ceived that the Armies were engaged ; when Sermon was done (in the Afternoon) the report was more audible,which made us all long tohear of the fuccefs : About Sun-fatting (Otíob. z ;. 1642.) many Troops fled through the Town , and told us that all wasloft onthe Parliament fide; and the Carriage taken and Waggons plun- dered before they came away ; and none that followed brought any other News. The Towns -men tent a Meffenger to Stratfordupon Avon toknow the certaintruth. About four a clock in the Morning the Meffenger returned, and told us, That Prince Rupert wholly routed the left Wing of the Earl of Efx's Army ; but while his Men were plundering the Waggons, the main Body and the Right Wing rout- ed the refs of the King's Army, took his Standard (but it was loft again ) ; hill'd his General the Earl ofLindfey, and hisStandard -bearer , took Prifbner the Earl of Lindfey's Son the LordWilloughby, and others ; and loft few Perfons of Quality,and no Noblemen bur the LordSr. yobn, eldeft Son to the Earl of Bullingbrook : and that the lofs of the left Wingwas through the Treachery of Sir Faithful Fortefcue, Major to the Lord Fielding'sRegiment of Horfe, who turned to the King when he fhould have Charged : and that the Vietory wasobtained principally by Colonel Hollis's Regiment of London Red- Coats, and the Earl of Efeexs own Regiment, and Life -Guard, where Sir Philip Stapleton, and SirArthur Hafelrigge, and Col.Urrey did much. The next Morning being willing to fee the Field where they had fought,I went to Edgbill, and found the Earl of Efjex with theremaining part of his Army keep. ing the Ground , and the King's Army facing them upon the Hill a mile off; and about aThoufand dead Bodies in the Field between them, (and I fuppofe many were buriedbefore ): and neitherof the Armies moving towardeach other. The King's Army prefently drew offtowards Banbury, and fo to Oxford. The Earl of Effex's Army went back to provide forthe wounded, and refrefhthemfelves at War- wick Cattle, (the Lord Brook's Houk). For my (elf I knewnot what Courfe to take : To live at home I was uneafieb but efpecially now, when Soldiers on one fideor other would be frequently among us, and we muff be (till at the Mercy of every furious Beaft that would make a prey of us: I had neither Money nor Friends : I knew not who would receive me in any place of Safety; nor had I any thing to fatisfie them for my Diet and Entertainment. Hereupon I was perfwaded by one that was with me to go to Co- ventry, where one of my old Acquaintancewas Miniher, (Mr: Simon King, fome- time School-matter at Bridgenorrb) : So thither I went with a purpofe to flay there till one fide or other had got the Vi&ory, and the War was ended, and then to re- turn home again: For fo wife inMatters ofWar was I, and all the Country be- tides, that we commonly fuppofed that a very few days or weeks by one other Bat- ted, would end the Wars ; and I believe that no fmall number ofthe Parliament- men, had nó morewit than to think fo to. There I flayed at Mr. Ring',a month, but the War was as far from being like to end as before. Whilh I was thinking what Courfe to take in this Necelfrty, the Committee and Governour of the City defrredme that I would flay with them , and lodge in the Governour's Horfe, and preach to theSoldiers. The offer fuited -well with my Necefftties, but I refolved that I wouldnot beChaplain to the Regiment, nor take a Commiffion ; but if the meer preaching of a Sermon once or twice a week to the Garrifon would fatisfie them, I would accept of the Offer, till I could go home again. (Mr. A mall, one of the Minihers of the Town, had a Commiflion from the Earl of Efflos to be Chaplain to the Garrifon Regiment ; but the Governour and Committee being difpleafedwith him, made no ufe of him. And when he was difpleafed, as thinking I would take his place, I affuredhim I had no fuck in- G a ten.
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