412 ne HIs T 0 R y of the PuRITANS. VoL. U. Common- defeated by colonel Lilburn, near Wigan in Lancafhire, and his forces w~alth. entirely difperfed. The earl being wounded retired into Chifhire and ~from thence got to the king, who had marched his army as far as'Wor– cefler, whieh opened its gates, and gave him an honourable reception ; from hence his majefty fent letters to London, commanding all his fub– jetts between the age of fixteen and fixty to repair to his royal fiandard ; but few had the courage to appear, the parliament having declared all fuch rebels, and burnt the king's fummons by the hands of the common hang– man. His majefiy's affairs were now at a cri.fis; Lambert was i1~ his rear with a great body of horfe, and Cromwell followed with ten thoufand foot; which together with the forces that joined him by order of parliament; Battle of made an army of thirty thoufand men. The king being unable to keep th:;: Worcefier. field, fortified the city of lVorcejler, and encamped almofl: under the wa!ls.– September 3· Cromwell attacked Powick bridge, within two miles of the city, which drew out the king's forces and occafioned a general battle, in which his majefiy's army was entirely deflroyed; four tboufand being flain, feven thoufand taken prifoners, with the king's fl:andard, and one hund– r.ed fifty-eight colours. Never was a greater rout and difperfion,, nor a, more fatal blow to the royal caufe. The account which the general ·gal'{j to the parliament was, " that the battle was fought with various fuccefs " for fome hours, but f'cill hopeftll on our part, and in the end becam~ " an abfolute victory, the enemy's army being totally defeated, and the « town in our poifeilion, our men entering at the enemy's heels, and " fighting with them in tbe J:heets, took all their baggage and artillery, •• The difpute was long and very often.at pufh of pike from one defence " to another. There are abou.t fix or. feven thoufand prifoners, among " whom are many officers and perfons of quality. This for ought I " know, may be a crouwing mercy." All pofiible diligence was ufed to feize the perfon of the king; it was declared high treafon to conceal l1im, and a reward of a thoufand pounds was fet upon his head ; but· providence ordained his efcape, for after he.had travelled up and down . the country fix or [even weeks, under various difguifes, in company with one or two confi~lents, and efcaped a thoufand dangers, he got a paifage crofs the channel At .Brighthelnijlon in Sf!f!ex, and landed at Diepe in Normandy OClob. 16. the morning after he embarked, from whence he travelled by land to Paris,. where his mother maintained him out of her fmall penfion from the court of France. Low condiThe hopes of. the royaliils were now expiring, for the iflands of ti?n of the·h Guernfey and Jerjey, with all the br-iti(h plantations in America, were krng and t e· d h" I b d" f h ]" . fi h ehurch 0 r reduce t !S fummer to t 1e o e 1ence o t e par lament, 111 o muc. Englana, that his majefly had neither fort no!\ cafl:le, nor a foot of land in all his dominions. The. liturgy of the church of England was alfo under a to– . . ~ ~
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