creased his army to 10000, falls to storming June 2, at seven at night, whilst those within fought stoutly both in the streets and from the houses, so that getting all by inches, after six hours fight, and much loss on his side, Fairfax got the victory; 200 Kentish were slain, and 1300 prisoners taken, divers of quality; 400 horse, 8 pieces of cannon, with good booty. Rochester after this was surrendered to Fairfax upon discretion. Many of the Kentish men got together under the old Lord Goring, and crossing the Greenwich Ferry into Essex, join with Sir Charles Lucas, who had raised 2000 horse and foot, and seized the Earl of Warwick's armory, and got into Colchester, which now becomes the seat of war, and the country flocked into them with a party from London, and the Lord Capel, and the Lord Loughborough, from Hertfordshire.

But Fairfax leaving Colonels Rich and Hewson to take in those places in Kent which himself had no time to reduce, crossed into Essex, and came before Colchester, surrounding it with a potent army. The seamen being now dissatisfied and mutinous, divers ships, with Vice-Admiral Batten, went to Prince Charles, who with a considerable fleet sets to sea, with his brother the Duke of York, Prince Rupert, the Earl of Brainford, the Lords Hopton, Wilmot, Willoughby, and Culpeper, and others of quality, and came into Yarmouth Road with 20 good men of war, and 2000 soldiers, where he would have landed; but hearing of Colonel Scroop's coming against him with a party of horse and foot, he sailed from thence to the Downs, seizing what merchant ships and goods he could meet withal. Deal Castle was at this time besieged, for the relief whereof, the Prince sets 500 men ashore, who at first charged handsomely, but being too weak, some were taken, others slain, and the rest got on board again. Soon after Sandwich, Deal, and Weymore Castles were yielded up, and all Kent fully reduced. Whilst the Prince anchors in the Downs, the States of Scotland invite him to them, and engage the public faith of that kingdom for his well being, in honour, freedom, and safety with them and their army in England, or where else he pleased; but he having written to the House of Lords for promoting the treaty with the King, and in vain summoned the Earl of Warwick, Admiral for the Parliament, to submit to him as chief Captain General under his Majesty, and wanting provisions, returned back with his fleet into Holland. But the Earl of Holland being commissioned from the Prince, raises forces just in the view of the Parliament, at Kingston upon Thames, assisted by the Duke of Buckingham, Lord Francis Villiers his brother, and the Earl of Peterborough, and July 2, they mustered

Q

500 horse, and some foot, upon Kingston Heath, and from thence marched to Darking, designing to pass Rygate, but were prevented by Colonel Rich, and Major Gibbons, and therefore retreat from thence towards Kingston, closely pursued by the other; and sending their foot before, to secure their retreat to the town, they made a stand between Ewel and Nonsuch Park; the pursuers follow on, the fight was short and smart; the Lord Francis Villiers refusing quarter was slain, with Major Dalbier, and a son of Sir Kenelm Digby, and others; the rest put to flight, and many prisoners of note taken. The Earl of Holland was taken at St. Noet's, in Huntingdonshire, and sent prisoner to Warwick Castle, but the Duke of Buckingham escaped beyond

sea.

Colchester holds out courageously, making frequent sallies on the besiegers with some success, hoping for relief from the north. The Parliament of Scotland having sat since last March, and were disgusted at the proceedings of the English against the King; so that notwithstanding the offers of the Parliament to pay their former arrears, and their inclination to settle the Presbyterian government here; yet they formed a Committee of Danger about English affairs, the major part whereof being Hamilton's faction, vote a war, which the others protest against, but to no purpose; and now the Scots publish their declaration, the heads whereof were: That his Majesty may come to London, or to some of his houses near, and that with safety; that reparation be made for carrying him away, or satisfaction by punishing them that did it; that the army under the Lord Fairfax be disbanded; that Presbytery be settled, Sectaries punished; that all the members of the House be restored. The royalists now flock apace to Edinburgh, and Wogan, a Captain in the English army, revolts to them with his troop, and two companies of foot landed out of Ireland at Cheshire, and marched thither likewise. Berwick is surprised by the royalists. Sir Thomas Glenham, and Sir P. Musgrave raise forces for the King in Westmoreland and Cumberland, with which they surprise Carlisle; and with them joins Sir Mar. Langdale with some horse, he being General of the English army for the King, and now being about 3000 strong, they coast about the northern counties. July 13, 1648, the Scots army entered England, the van led by Duke Hamilton; the main body by Major-General Middleton; and the rear by the Earl of Calender: these join with Langdale, and fall upon Major-General Lambert, near Appleby, forcing him to retire into the town, and from thence to Kirby Steven, and after to Bowes, leaving some of his forces behind him to defend the castle, which was besieged, and taken August

7, by Sir P. Musgrave. Colonel Boynton, Governor of Scarborough Castle, now declares for the King; and Pomfret Castle was surprised by Major Morris; Tinmouth Castle likewise revolts, but was soon retaken by Sir Arthur Haslerig.

The Scots retreat to Kendal in Westmorland, and Lambert much increased his forces, and Cromwell having quieted Wales, marches to join with Lambert, taking Pomfret Town (but not the Castle) in his way; Hamilton leaves Kendal, and marches into Lancashire, intending for London; which the English army design to hinder, and therefore march to Preston, where Hamilton and Langdale lay with near 24000 soldiers; Cromwell and Lambert had about 5000 horse and dragoons, and 7000 foot. August the 17th both armies faced each other; Major Smithson commanded the forlorn of the English, who charged furiously on the other, routed them, and alarmed the whole army, and so the battles join on a Moor two miles east of Preston; the fight was very hot for two hours, but then the Scots gave ground, which encouraged the English to pursue, and that so fiercely as the Scots were forced to divide; one part being a body of 3000 horse moved toward Lancaster, and was pursued and dispersed by Colonel Twisselton, and Thornlow, who took multitudes of them prisoners; the other part, horse and foot, march over the river Ribel, whom the main of the English army follow, and at Ribel Bridge, the Scots make a stand, defending the pass stoutly for two hours, even to push of pike, and were then constrained to retire; the next morning the Scots draw up upon an hill, on the side of Preston, whence being forced by the English, they fled in the greatest disorder to Wiggan, which they plundered, and next morning marched toward Warrington, the English being still in pursuit of them; near Warrington the Scots taking the advantage of pass, make another stand, but were again beaten with the loss of 1000 men, and were prosecuted to the very bridge, where 4000 of the foot, being deserted of the horse, laid down their arms and submitted to mercy; Hamilton escaped with 3000 horse to Nafftwich, where the country being up in arms, seized 500 of them; Cromwell marches toward Cumberland to meet Monroe, ordering all the Parliament commanders in those counties to follow the flying Scots, by some of whom M. G. Middleton, who commanded 400 horse, was defeated, and taken prisoner, and the rest dispersed; Hamilton himself was seized at Uxeter by Lord Gray of Groby and sent prisoner to Ashby de la Zouch.

In this fight the English took more prisoners than their whole army amounted to; the ensigns and colours here taken, were afterwards hung

up in Westminster hall; Sir Mar. Langdale was apprehended in an Inn. Cromwell improves this success, and comes to Durham to look out Monroe, supposed to be about 6000 strong; but the Presbyterian party in Scotland having now recovered the power, command him to return, which he obeys more for fear of the English than dutifulness to them, and joining with the Earl of Lanerick, both together made up 8000 horse and foot; to oppose whom, the Presbyterians provided an army, whereof the Earl of Argile was Commander in Chief, and David Lesly, Lieutenant-General. Cromwell enters Scotland, and publishes this declaration : ". Whereas we are marching with the forces of the Parliament of England into the kingdom of Scotland, in pursuance of the remaining part of the enemy who lately invaded the kingdom of England, for the recovery of the garrisons of Berwick and Carlisle; these are to declare, that if any officer or soldier under my command shall take or demand any money, or shall take any horses, goods, or victuals without order, or shall abuse the people, he shall be tried, and punished with death by a council of war." Argile, Lowdon, Leven, and other of the Scots nobility, repair to Cromwell, and contract with him for subduing the public enemy; and so much was he feared in Scotland, that this agreement was consented to: 1. That the armies under Argile, and the other under Lanerick, and Monroe, with all the forces in any of the garrisons in Scotland be disbanded, and Berwick and Carlisle be delivered to the English. 2. That the settlement of religion at home, and promoting reformation abroad, be ordered by the determination of the General Assembly; and all civil differences be referred to a parliament speedily to be called. 3. That no party that were in the last engagements against England, be of the new Parliament, or of the General Assembly. And so Cromwell returns into England, after he had been feasted and treated at Edinburgh, and highly caressed by the States of Scotland with all expressions of honour; and in Yorkshire he was desired by the Committee to reduce Scarborough and Pomfret Castles, which was afterwards performed.

Colchester had endured a tedious siege, and was now brought to such scarcity of provision, that they had not horse flesh enough to serve them for one day, that being the food which they had fed on for almost a fortnight, and purchased with much blood spilt in divers sallies for dead horses, and now perceiving all hopes of succour utterly frustrated, were necessitated to yield upon these conditions; that the common soldiers depart with life, and the officers to remain at the General's disposal, he to exempt from mercy whom he pleased, the

remainder to be remitted to the Parliament's mercy, and the town to raise 14000l. to preserve it from plunder. The prisoners of quality were, the Lords Goring, Capel, and Loughborough, 11 Knights, 12 Colonels, 8 Lieutenant-Colonels, 9 Majors, 30 Captains, and 65 gentlemen; the common prisoners were about 3000. Three of the Knights were condemned by a council of war, Sir Charles Lucas, Sir G. Lisle, and Sir Ber. Gascoyn, a Papist; the last was reprieved, and the other two were shot to death; the first having (as Fairfax said in his letter to the Parliament) contrary to his promise not kept his word with him; the second accused to have directed the shooting of poisoned bullets contrary to the law of arms: and so Fairfax, after much loss of time and men, and difficult service for a quarter of a year, against the valiant defence of the besieged, took possession of Colchester, August 27, 1648. After which he marches up and down the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridge, and Hertford, to settle peace, and visit the garrisons, and so returns to to St. Alban's, his head quarter. And thus ended the military actions of this year.

Whilst the army was busied in fighting, the Parliament received petitions from several counties for a treaty with the King, and among others one from London, withal desiring the release of their Aldermen Gayer, Langham, Bunch, and Serjeant Glyn, which the House agreed to; and likewise repealed their orders against the Earls of Lindsey, Suffolk, and Middlesex, and the Lords Berkley, Hunsden, Maynard, Willoughby of Parham, and the eleven impeached members. And now they apply themselves to the business so much desired. The Earl of Middlesex, Sir J. Hipsley, and Mr. Bunkley were sent to the King, to let him know the Parliament's intentions, who returned with his desires; upon which the Parliament voted; that the votes of non addresses should be recalled; that such persons as the King should send for, as necessary to him in the treaty be admitted; that he be in the same state of freedom as at Hampton Court, with such servants as he desires; that five lords, and ten commons be chosen commissioners to treat with the King, and the place to be Newport, in the Isle of Wight; and that the King be admitted to invite the Scots thereunto, but to treat only concerning that kingdom. These votes were sent down to the King, who was to treat personally with the following commissioners: the Earls of Salisbury, Pembroke, Middlesex, Northumberland, and the Lord Say, for the House of Lords; the Lord Wainman, Mr. Pierpoint, Sir H. Vane the younger, Sir Harry Grimston, Sir J. Potts, Mr. Brown, Mr. Crew, and Mr. Bulkley,