from the major part no better fruite was to be looked for in a degenerate age, when in many of them there appeared an hatred of the commons, and a strong disposition to the ends of tyranny. Others there were not wholly averse from the good of the commonwealth, whose enmity was grounded in religion, which obtained the most eminent place in the parliament's cause. The superstitious adoring of their old way imbittered their spirits against reformed religion, which to them seemed a peevish affectation of novelty, besides, the hatred and feare of ecclesiasticall discipline. But the greatest number neither driven by ambition, nor the spirit of blind zeale, only resolving to be true to themselves, deserted the state with some inclinations to the contrary faction, reflecting on their estates invironed with the king's country, neare the heart of his strength and farre from parliamentary supplies; besides, the violence and quicke dispatch of the king's army, with the slow performances of our country agents after the space of an ordinary legall course in those extremities, did much deterre them; the country complained of their principall men for the neglect of taxes, and the gentlemen might happily see the grudgings of the country in the payment of those taxes (for the common people are alwaies covetous though well-affected) and forbeare to urge whatsoever might distaste the people, or crosse the parliament's accustomed moderation. Which slow deliberations did lessen the esteem of the service in the hearts

of many.

The secession of the dis-affected gentlemen did cast an aspersion that could not sticke, that the businesse was deserted by knowing men, and prosecuted by a rash and confused multitude. Whereas by no one thing could it more evidently appeare to be the cause of the common-wealth than by the acknowledgement of the whole body of the commons, which is more honest and wise in things of publicke concernment; for though they be very weake one by one, yet brought together they ballance each other, and when no man

hath power to impropriate much, each man expects only a proportionable share in the publicke interest. Neither is their judgement and fore-sight to be undervalued who are apt to discerne any thing that concernes themselves, and being united are not like to faile, for they have the best experience and are neerely affected with the woe or weale of the state, and so may sometimes judge better than those that guide it, as he that useth the house can better judge thereof than the builder, and the pilote of the sterne than the carpenter. And although they have not the first and most excellent part of knowledge to finde out, and by themselves to understand the rules of government, yet have they the second part, which is also excellent to judge aright of things proposed, and if not made fit for the yoke by dependence on the gentry, can discover the fraud that lyes under the fairest pretext; but the gentlemen by depriving the meaner people of their due protection, blemished the reputation of their families, and crossed the end of their honours and possessions, which in a well ordered state are given for a shelter to the under shrubs that some generous spirit neerer the commons might keepe off the invasion of princes, and whose power was most desired in such an exegence, to gather up the scatterings of the people and keepe them united, who for want of this concurrence were of lesse strength and vigour.

Such was the face of this country now ready to receive the first shocke of the enemies' fury. About the first of January, 1642, the maine strength of the king's army came before Cirencester prepared and resolved to storme it, yet they only faced the towne, and after two daies were strangely taken off, either disabled by the extreame cold on the hills, or some suddaine misfortune, or daunted by the shew of unanimity and resolution in the people, or else clouded in their thoughts by the secret will of God in the nick of action, that they made not the least attempt, but threatned an afterclap. A few daies after our forces had their designe upon

Sudely castle, at that time kept by Captaine Bridges in the behalfe of the Lord Chandos. Lieutenant Colonell Massie was intrusted with the manage of this action, who drew from Gloucester a party of three hundred musketteers, with two sakres assisted with fourescore horse, and foure companies of dragoones from Cirencester by order of a counsell of warre held there, and consent of the deputy lieutenants; there were in the castle neere threescore souldiers, with provision and ammunition sufficient: our men drew up before it in the evening, made severall shots, and the canon did some execution; the same night summons was given, the enemy refused to render upon quarter, but craved time till the next day, which in part was granted; guards were set upon them all night, the next morning our men were drawne out to make an assault, beds and wooll-packs were fetched out of the neighbourhood, which they tumbled before, and saved themselves from shot: the horse and dragoones came up before the foot approached the wall, and possest themselves of a garden under the castle, and got hay and straw which they fired, that the smoake driven by the wind smothered the house, in the shadow of which the ordnance were brought up undiscovered, and planted against the weakest part of the castle, which when the enemy perceived they sounded a parley, and immediately rendred upon agreement; the conditions were that all might have liberty of person, and passe to their owne houses, leaving their armes behind, and taking an oath never to serve against the parliament: they compounded also for the goods in the house, for which they were to pay five hundred pounds within sixe daies, or to leave them a free prize to the souldiers.

Within two daies after Prince Rupert faced Sudely with about foure thousand horse and foot pretending an attempt to regaine it, but in the meane time marched his artilery towards Cirencester. Lieutenant Colonell Massie made provision to maintaine the castle by taking in water, and store of hay and corne, and having left

E

there Lieutenant Colonell Forbes with a sufficient guard, himselfe retreated to Gloucester; the prince with his forces kept the hills, and after three daies fell before Cirencester a stragling and open towne, neither well fortified nor capable of defence. The champaine country round about was most advantagious to the horse, in which the enemies' strength did chiefly consist, and which was then wholly wanting to that garrison, for their horse and dragoones were sent to the taking of Sudely: most of their officers were drawne out upon that service except the captaines of the volunteers, and Lieutenant Colonell Karre was the only experienced souldier left there their canoneers were wanting, the common souldiers quite off the hinges, either cowardly or mutinous. The storme rose when least feared by the miserable people, who had not ended the joy of their late deliverance from as great a power but strangely diverted; and though they were still in the same danger upon the reverse of the army, yet were they not capable of the least distrust, till the storme hovered againe, either supposing themselves invincible, or by defiance to have bafled a wary enemy, that falls backe and waites his time to returne with greater fury. On the second of February the towne was assaulted and taken; the first and maine assault was made on a house a flight shot from the town, which was defended by a hundred musketeers for an houre's space against two regiments of foot, and a regiment of horse which were led on by the prince, till at length having drawne up their musketeers, and by granadoes fired the barnes and ricks and smoothered the guard, the enemie's horse drove their foote before them, entred the streetes by maine force, and possest themselves of the garrison within two houres, yet it cost them the lives of many, amongst whom the Welch-men were reported to suffer the greatest slaughter, who in that army were a continuall sacrifice to the sword. Each guard made resistance according to the officers' valour and experience; the souldiers of the Earle of Stamford's regiment had

acted the best part but that they were most put to the sword when the towne was entred, except those that by flight had their lives given them for a prey. Some few besides defended their guards a while, but the passages were many and open, and the enemy soone came upon their backes; as for the country-men their houre was not yet come, neither had they quitted such imployment as did infeeble their spirits, nor entred the schoole of war to study indignation, revenge and bloud, that alone can overcome the terrour of an army.

It so fell out that in the midst of the service they were at their wits end, and stood like men amazed, feare bereft them of understanding and memory, begat confusion in the minde within, and the thronging thoughts did oppresse and stop the course of action, that they were busied in everything, but could bring forth nothing; few of ours were slaine in the fight, but many murthered after the taking of the towne, eleaven hundred taken prisoners and at least two thousand armes lost, which the country had there laid up as in a secure magazine; the miserable captives were entertained with all despight and contumely, according to the enemie's accustomed cruelty in the beginning of the warre; commanders and gentlemen had no better quarter than the common souldiers, but were all thrust into the church to be reserved for a triumph, and trampled upon in a base and impotent revenge: whether the first fury of a civill warre, and the jarres of brethren prove most outragious, or the cause of religion had blouded their minds. Not a man could be released, though the price of his redemption were paid, till he had first attended the triumph at Oxford; that an unfortunate king might view the aspect of such innocent subjects, that should presume to claime those rights wherein they were borne, when reason might easily evince that no slight matter could engage such a people in a open warre as were ever willing to deceive themselves into a supererrogation of loyalty.

The whole country was quickly full of this disaster, and in vaine