tle, which I received from those that knew it, I shall commend to this history. He had the charge and ordering of all the horse cast upon him by the general unexpectedly, but a little before the battle, which he had no sooner received, but it was high time to apply himself to the discharge of it; for before the field-officers could give a tolerable account of the drawing up of the army, the enemy came on, arrained in passing good order; which the lieutenant general perceiving, was so far from being dismayed at it, that it was the rise and occasion of a most triumphant faith and joy in him, expecting that God would do great things by small means, and by the things that are not, bring to nought the things that are. A happy time, when the Lord of Hosts shall make his tabernacle in the hearts and countenances of our chief commanders."

The God of the Roundheads.

Among other spoils taken from the royalists, "there was brought to the head-quarters a wooden image, in the shape of a man, and in such form as they blasphemously called it the God of the Roundheads; and this they carried, in scorn and contempt of our army, in a public manner, a little before the battle began."

The Siege of Leicester

is familiar to those acquainted with the life of Bunyan. In his biography it is stated that he was a soldier in the new model army, and was drawn, with others, to go to the siege, but when he was about to march, another expressed a desire to take his place, Bunyan consented, and the poor volunteer was shot. Our author tells a wonderful story, at the end of his account, of the re-taking of Leicester by the Parliament army. "It is concerning colonel Thomas, a Welchman and a Papist, who was slain at Naseby. The next day after the king had taken Leicester by storm, he came to the gaol, where the prisoners they had taken were put, and called for them, and commanded such as were willing to serve the king, to come to one side of the room. Divers of them coming, he commands them, one by one, to kneel down and swear this oath By Jesus, I will serve the king,' which some did. Not satisfied, he required them to swear: I will serve the king,' affirming publicly that he was not fit to serve, that refused. They refusing, he drew his sword, cut them in the head, in the arms, and in other parts of the body, wounding them most cruelly."

6

1849.]

Operations of Cromwell's Army.

The Storming of Bridgewater.

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"On the Lord's day, July 20, Mr. [Hugh] Peters, in the forenoon, preached a preparation sermon, to encourage the soldiers to go on. Mr. Bowles, likewise, did his part in the afternoon. After both sermons, the drums beat and the army was drawn out into the field. The commanders of the forlorn hope, who were to begin the storm, and the soldiers, being drawn together, were there also exhorted afresh, to do their duties with undaunted courage and resolution, by Mr. Peters, who did it, as one says of him, 'tam Marte quam Mercurio.' As soon as it grew dark, the soldiers drew every one to their several posts. The sign when the storm was to begin was the shooting off three pieces of ordnance. On Monday, July 22, about two of the clock in the morning, the storm began. Our forlorn hope was manfully led on by Lieut. Col. Hewson. The bridges prepared to pass over the moat, were quickly brought to the ditch and thrown in, on which the soldiers, with little loss, got over the deep ditch, and, with undaunted courage, mounted the enemy's works, beat them from their ordnance, and let down their draw-bridge, which made many of their foot instantly cry 'quarter! quarter!'

66 Tuesday, July 22, at two of the clock in the afternoon, the general sent to the governor a trumpet with a message to this purpose: That his denial of fair terms [the day before] had wrought in him no other thoughts but of compassion towards those that were innocent, who otherwise might suffer through the governor's obstinacy. He also signified his noble pleasure, that all women and children that would accept of this liberty, should come out of the town by four of the clock in the afternoon, which being made known to them, the governor's lady and others came out. They were no sooner come forth, but our cannon played fiercely into the town, grenades and slugs of hot iron were shot in abundance, whereby several houses in the town were fired. The wind, being high, increased the flame, the townsmen within were in great distraction, the enemy in great amazement, and the governor so far melted as to send forth Tom Elliot, in haste, to desire to know the general's terms." After Tom Elliot had passed messages between the governor and the general several times, terms were agreed upon; and, continues Sprigge,

"On Wednesday, July 23, the town was surrendered, about 1000 officers and soldiers, besides gentlemen and malignant clergy, having marched out as prisoners."

On the next sabbath the army rested at Martock, and observed as a day of thanksgiving for the success at Bridgewater.

The Storming of Bristol

occupies the whole of Chap. 4th, Part Second, and contains the correspondence between Fairfax and prince Rupert, Cromwell's letter to parliament, also a letter of condolence to their unsuccessful brethren, the Scots. We are informed that on Friday, August 29th, "a fast was kept through the army, to seek God for a blessing upon the designs against Bristol. Mr. Del and Mr. Peters kept the day, at the head-quarters. After the public exercises, a council of war was called. It being agreed upon, in the first place, to punish the vices of the army, it was then propounded, 'Whether to storm Bristol or not?" The debate was long, opinions various; however, it was agreed that all things should be prepared in order to a storm, and afterwards to take into further consideration whether to storm or entrench the leaguer. In the midst of these thoughts and resolutions, tidings were brought of the defeat given to our brethren, the Scots. ** Lord's day, Aug. 31. Captain Moulton, admiral for the Irish coast, who was now come into the Severn, came from aboard his ship to the general, and expressed much readiness to assist in the storming of the city with his seamen. Tuesday, Sept. 2. A council of war being called, and all the colonels present, after a long debate, Whether to storm Bristol or no, it was put to the question and resolved in the affirmative." For the manner of the storm, it was referred to a committee, who were ordered to report, in writing, the next morning. "Accordingly, Wednesday, Sept. 3d, the manner of the storm was presented, in writing, to the general, which was to be after this manner." (The details, our space will not permit.) "The manner of the storm being agreed upon, the soldiers were drawn out to try their inclination, than in whom more joy, courage, and resolution could not appear in men." "At this council of war it was also agreed, that a letter should be written, and subscribed by the general and all the officers, to general Leven, to express how sensible they were of the losses their forces had received in Scotland, by Montrose," etc. The letter is as follows. "May it please your excellency and the rest, honored friends and beloved brethren: We have, not without much grief, received the sad report of your affairs in Scotland; how far God, for his best and secret ends, hath been pleased to suffer the enemy to prevail there. And are (we speak unfeignedly) not less sensible of your evils, than you have been of ours, nor than we are of our own. The greater cause of sympathy have we with you, and the more do our bowels yearn towards you, because whatever you now suffer yourselves, in your own kingdom, are chiefly occasioned by your assisting us in ours,

1849.]

Proceedings at Bristol.

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against the power that was risen up against the Lord himself and his anointed ones. Wherefore we cannot forget your labors of love, but thought good at this season, even amongst our many occasions, to let you know, that when the affairs of this kingdom will possibly dispense with us, the parliament allowing, and you accepting of our assistance, we shall be most willing, if need so require, to help and serve you faithfully in your own kingdom, and to engage ourselves to suppress the enemy there, and to establish you again in peace. In the mean time, we shall endeavor to help you by our prayers, and to wrestle with God for one blessing of God upon both nations, between whom, besides many other strong relations and engagements, we hope the unity of spirit shall be the surest bond of peace. And this, whatever suggestions or jealousies may have been to the contrary, we desire you would believe, as you shall ever really find to proceed from integrity of heart, a sense of your sufferings, and a full purpose to answer any call of God to your assistance, as become your Christian friends and servants in the Lord." To this are attached the names of Fairfax, Cromwell, and twenty-three other officers. The next day, Sept. 4th, the general sent the following into Bristol.

"For his highness, prince Rupert: Sir, For the service of parliament, I have brought their army before the city of Bristol, and do summon you, in their names, to render it, with all the forts belonging to the same, into my hands, for their use. Having used this plain language, as the business requires, I wish it may be as effectual unto you as it is satisfactory to myself, that I do a little expostulate with you about the surrender of the same, which I confess is a way not common, and which I should not have used, but in respect to such a person and to such a place. I take into consideration your royal birth, and relation to the crown of England; your honor, courage, the virtues of your person, and the strength of that place, which you may think yourself bound and able to maintain. Sir, the crown of England is, and will be, where it ought to be; we fight to maintain it there. But the king, misled by evil counsellors, or through a seduced heart, hath left his parliament, under God the best assurance of his crown and family. The maintaining of this schism is the ground of this unhappy war on your part, and what sad effects it hath produced in the three kingdoms is visible to all men. To maintain the rights of the crown and kingdom jointly, a principal part whereof is, that the king in supreme acts is not to be advised by men of whom the law takes no notice, but by his parliament, the great council of the kingdom, in whom, as much as man is capable of, he heard all his people as it were at once advising

him; and in which multitude of counsellors lies his safety and his people's interest; and to see him right in this, has been the constant and faithful endeavor of the parliament, and to bring these wicked instruments to justice, that have misled him, is a principal ground of our fighting.

"Sir, if God makes this clear to you, as he hath to us, I doubt not but he will give you a heart to deliver this place, notwithstanding all the other considerations of honor, courage, fidelity, etc., because of their constancy and use in the present business depends upon the right or wrongfulness of this that hath been said. And if upon such conditions you shall surrender it and save the loss of blood, or regard the spoiling of such a city, it would be an occasion glorious in itself, and joyful to us, for the restoring of you to the endeared affection of parliament and people of England, the truest friend to your family it hath in this world.

"But if this be hid from your eyes, and through your wilfulness, this so great, so famous, and so ancient a city, and so full of people, be by your putting us to force the same, exposed to ruin and the extremities of war, then I appeal to the righteous God to be judge between you and us, and to require the wrong. And let all England judge whether the burning of its towns, ruining its cities, and destroying its people, be a good requital from a person of your family, which hath had the prayers, tears, purses, and blood of its parliament and people. And if you look on either as now divided, [England] hath ever had that same party both in parliaments and among the people, most zealous for their assistance and restitution, which you now offer and seek to destroy, and whose constant grief hath been their desires to serve your family, [but whose desires] have been ever hindered or made fruitless by that same party about his majesty, whose counsel you act, and whose interests you pursue in this unnatural war. I expect your speedy answer to this summons, with the return of the bearer this evening, and remain your highness' humble servant, Thomas Fairfax."

The trumpeter that went in with this summons was detained all night; but on Friday, Sept. 5th, he returned with this answer.

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'Sir, I received yours by your trumpeter. I desire to know whether you will give me leave to send a messenger to the king, to know his pleasure in it. I rest, your servant, Rupert."

On Saturday there was sent, in a reply to the above: "Sir, Your overture of sending to the king to know his pleasure, I cannot give way to, because of delay. I confess your answer doth intimate your intention not to surrender without his majesty's consent. Yet because