54- The L IFE of the L i B. I. Dominicans; the Arminians and Calvinifis. Then they as fiercely cried down our prefènt Tranflationof the Scriptures, and debafed their Authority , though they did not deny them to be Divine : And they cried down all our Miniftry, Epifco- pal, Presbyterian and Independent ; and all our Churches : And they vilified al- molt all our ordinary Worfhip ; efpecially finging of Pfalmr, and conitantFamily Worfhip : They allowed ofno ArgumentfromScripturebut what was brought in its exprefs words : They were vehement against both the King, and all Govern- ment but Popular ; and againft Magifirates medling in Matters of Religion : And all their difputingwas with as muchfiercenefs, as if they had been ready to draw their Swords upon thofe against whom they difputed. They nulledmore to Policy, Scorn and Power , than to Argument : Theywould bitterly fcorn me a- mong their Hearers, to prejudice them before they entred into difpute. Theya- voided me as much as poffible ; but when we did come to it , they drowned all Reafon in fiercenefs, and vehemency, and multitude of words. They greatly (trove. for Places of Command, and when any Placewas due by order to another that was not of their mind, they would be fare to work him out ; and be ready to mutiny if they had not their'will. I thought they were principled by the Jefuits, and acted all for their Interelt, and in their way; but the fecret Spring was out of fight. Thefe were the fame Men that afterward werecalled Leveller,, and rote up against Cromwell, and were furprized at Burford ( having deceived and drawn to themmany more) : And Thampfon the Generalof the Levellers that was flain then, was no greater a Man than one ofthe Corporals of this Troop ; the Cornet and othersbeing much worfe than he. And thus I have given you a rafle of my Imployment in the Army. 178. As loon as I came to the Army they marched fpeedily down into theWeft, becaufe the Kinghad no Army left but the LordGoring's there,and they would not fuffer the Fugitives ofNafeby-fight to come thither to ftrengthenthem : They came quickly down to Somerton when Goringwas at Langport ; which lying upon the Ri- ver, Maffey was lent to keep him in on the farther fide, while Fairfaxattended him on this fide, with his Army. One day they faced each orher, and did nothing: The next day they came to their Ground again. Betwixt the two Armies was a narrow Lane which went between fome Meadows in a bottom, and a fmall Brook crofftng the Lane with a narrowBridge. Goring planted two or three fmall Pieces at the Head ofthe Lane to keep the Paffage, and there placed his belt Horfe ; fo that nonecould come to them, but over that narrow Bridge, and up that Beep Lane upon themouth of thofe Pieces. After many hoursfacing each other, Fair- fax's greater Ordinance affrighting ( more thanhurting) Goring's men, and fome Mufquetiersbeing tint to drive theirsfrom under the Hedges, at laft Cromwell bid Whalley fend three of iris Troopsto Charge the Enemy, and he lent three of the General's Regiment to fecundthem, (all beingof Cromwell'sold Regiment). Whal- ley Pent Major Bethel, Capt. Evanfon,and Capt.Grove to Charge; Major Deshoraugb with another Troop or two carne after ; they could go but one or two abreaft o- ver the Bridge. By that time Bethel and Evanfon with their Troops were got up to the top ola the Lane, they met with a felè& Party of Goring's heft Horde, and charged them an Sword'spoint whillt you would count three or four hundred, and then put them to Retreat. In theflight they purfued them too far to the main Bo- dy ; for the Duft was fo extream great (being in the very hotteft time of Sum- mer) that they that were in it could fcarce fee each other, but I that flood over them upon the brow of the Hill faw all : when they taw themfelves upon the face of Goring's Army, they fledback in hafte,and by that time they came to the Lane again, Capt. Grave's Troop was ready to flop them, and relieve them, and Desbo- rongh behind hin, : whereupon they rallied again,andthe five or fix. Troops together marcht towards allGoring's Arm. :But before they came to the Front,I could difcern the t' ere begin to run and fo beginning in theRere they all fled before they endured any Charge,nòr wasthere a blow Bruck that day,but by Bethel, and Evanfon'sTroop. (on chat Gde), and a few Mufquetiers in the Hedges. Goring's Army fled to Bridg- water ; and very fèw of them were either kill'd or taken in the fight or the purfuit. I happened re, be next toMajor Harrif)n as foon as the flight began, and heard him W, a a loud Voice break forth into the Praifes of God with fluent Expredions, as if he had been in a Rapture. Upon this Gorire fled further Weftward (to Exeter) with his Army : But Fair. faxBayed-to befiege Bridgwater : and after two days it was taken by fiorm , in which.Col. Hammonds Service was much magnified. Mr. Peters being come to. the Army horn London but a day before, went prefently back with the News of Goring's
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