16 'Ihe HISTORY of the PuRITANS. VoL. II. K. Charles I. ammunitiou of all forts, fix pieces of canon, and two mortars. Upon ~J which the houfe of commons impeached her of high treafon, for levy– ing forces without confen t of parliament. In the month of April the earl of Ejfex befieged and took the town of Reading, from whence he marched within ten miles of Oxford, where prince Rupert with a party of horfe beat up his quarters, and killed the famous Mr. Hampden in Chalgravefield, after which E:ffex reti red , and put his fickly forces into quarters of refre!hment. In the north the king's armies had a train of fucceiies. Lord Fairfax was defeated by the earl of Newcaftle at At!mfton Moor, June 30. and Sir William Wailer at the battles of Lanj: down and Roundaway down, July 5th and 13th. which was followed with the lofs of Weymoutb, Dorcbefter, Portland Cciftle, Exeter, and almo£1: all the well:. About the latter end of July prince Rupert befieged and took the city of Brfftol, and the king himfelf fat down before Glouce{ter [Aug. 1oth.) which fo alarmed the two h oufes, that the !hops in London were ordered to be il1ut till the liege vvas raifed, and a ll:rong body of the trained bands difpatched to join the earl of E!fex's broken troops, who by this means, was in a condition in fifteen days to march to the relief of that important city ; upon the earl's approach the king raifed the iiege, and Ejfex entered the town, when reduced to the !ail: extremity; and having fupplied it with all neceiiaries, after three days returned to– wards London. The king being joined by prince Rupert with five thou– fand horfe, got before him to Ne111bury, where both armies engaged with pretty equal fuccefs, till night parted them, when his majefiy retired to Oxford, and left the way open for the earl to purfue his march. In this Ru!hw. Vol. V. p. 293· .battle the city trained bands, by their undaunted bravery, are faid to have gained immortal honour. But it is the opinion of moll: hifiorians, that if inllead of fitting down before Gloucejter, the king had marched his victorious army direCtly to London af~er the taking of Briftol, he might have put an end to the war, the parliament being in no readinefs to op– pofe him; however 'tis certain, that about this time the royal caufe was .in .the height of its profperity, and the parliament's at fo low an ebb, that they were obliged to throw themfelvcs into the hands of theJcots. It is no part of my defign to give a particular defcription of lieges and battles, or a recital of the military exploits of the heroes of thefe times, any further than to inform the reader of the true fituation of affairs, and to enable him to form a jufi idea of the grounds and reafons of thofe extraordinary meafures, that each party took for the fupport of their caufe. Let us therefore attend the affairs of the church. S ufferingr of The clergy on both fides had a deep !hare in the calamities of the times, the puritan being plundered, harra1Ied, imprifoned, and their livings fequeftered, as ,Iergy. they fell into the hands of the enemy. The king's party were greatly · incenfed
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=