Oxford were said to have yeelded that town for lost, and to give out that Sir William was gone to take possession of his purchase. For at that time treason was the pretended cause of every losse on both sides, especially if weak and unworthy. Both horse and foot came up before the city, where they lay a day and a night, effected nothing, and were drawn off at the noise of the Lord Capel's advance; at which instant Sir William Waller was taken off these parts, and ordered to march into the west, with all speed to prevent the joyning of Sir Ralph Hopton's forces with the rest of the king's army. Sir Robert Cook's regiment was called off from Tewksbury for the western expedition, and that town once more slighted.

Hitherto Lieutenant Colonell Massie governed the city of Gloucester by deputation from the Earle of Stanford, whose returne was not expected; wherefore the thoughts of the citizens began to enquire after a governour. They thought well of a man neare home, and cast their eye upon a knowne patriot. Neverthelesse more intelligent men upon the serious review of the citie's continuall hazard, found that the necessity of this place did require a tried souldier, and that such a one might possibly be found faithfull; but a timorous or unskilfull man must needs ruine all. Wherefore they reflected on Massie, whose good services gave them also a competent assurance of his fidelity; that by the happy choice of the citizens and the lord general's commission, he was appointed governour. To enable the city to defend itselfe, a foot regiment was raised by commission from Sir William Waller out of the town men, for the major part both officers and souldiers, under the command of Colonell Henry Stephens. The first intention of this regiment was to defend the city only within the walls, according to the infancy of warre; but the hard service of this place did suddenly require and exact the full duty of souldiers. At this instant the city was well becalmed, only there hapned one passage of inferi

our nature, but full of the fortune of warre. The governour with a party of an hundred and twenty horse and dragoons, advanced towards Stow in the wold, to beat up the enemies' quarters; by break of day he fell into slaughter, took a lieutenant, twelve troopers, horse and armes, and thence marched to Odington, a mile beyond Stow, where he surprised a captaine of a troop with forty men and horse, and so made homewards, neglecting the residue of the enemy, who drew out of their quarters with all speed. The remainder of their regiment fell upon the reere of our men, neare unto slaughter with some slight execution, but were beaten back. The governour being confident he was able to fight with them upon any ground, made no haste to march off, till the enemy had received a supply of horse from Sudely castle, and again charged him at Andover's foord, whom our men received gallantly, and repulsed without any losse. The captaine that led the van was slain by the governour's hand, and the rest wheeled about; whereupon the governour dismounted the dragoons, and divided his men into three bodies, the horse to the right and left wing, in this posture resolving to march up to the enemy (who would gladly rid their hands of the businesse) but having advanced a little distance, and looking back to bring on his men, saw the greater part in a strange hurry, occasioned by the facing about of some cowardly spirits, and himselfe with those dismounted men desperately engaged; for awhile he shuffled amongst the enemies' troops, till observing himself eyed by some, he sprang forth, fired in their faces, and came last off the field upon the maine roade. He offended here, by affecting too much gallantry, and was deceived in his new raised men, who were not hardned by the sight of an enemy. Besides, no ordinary care was had of securing the prisoners, who were all recovered back. Four of ours were slaine, many wounded: Colonell Stephens, a lieutenant, with five and twenty private souldiers taken prisoners. The springing hopes of Colonell Stephens failed unfortunately, when his eager minde,

engaged him in the action without order, and against the will of the commander in chiefe; he had no command in the action, but hasted after as greedy of the service; he was led captive to Oxford, and a while after breathed his last in that poysonous ayre, where many gentlemen were observed in those dayes to expire.

Amidst these things Sir John Winter, a zealous papist, began to declare himselfe. A subtile wit, that pretended innocency till his houre was come, and had almost perswaded the world that he durst deny himselfe, and commit an unpardonable sinne against the catholike cause. His house in the forrest of Deane was at first neglected, when it was in the power of this garrison to ruine his designe. But under hand he prepared for defence, suddenly clapt in his owne confidents, and with a little labour made it inaccessible, but with apparent great losse, and maintained his den as the plague of the forrest, and a goad in the sides of this garrison. These things were acted about the time of that blow almost fatall to the parliament's cause, in the vanquishing of Sir William Waller's army at the Devices; which defeat cast these parts of the kingdome into a miserable plight, when the state had placed the whole game in the successe of this army, never providing a reserve. The king became master of the field, the parliament left without an army that could check the enemy, who came up to our gates, and by threats would seeme to shake the walls of the city. Many began to prepare for flight, whose presence no reall necessity, but the people's opinion did require. They at Bristoll disclosed their feares, and gave no good presages. And when that city was yeelded, Gloucester did stand alone without help and hope. The lord general's army pined away: Sir William Waller at London for a recruit the Earle of Stamford shut up within the walls of Exeter : the king's country reached from the utmost Cornwall to the borders of Scotland, and he was able to divide his army, one part for Exeter, and the other for Gloucester.

That sudden surrender of Bristoll, which was almost beyond our feares, brought forth a dark gloomy day to the city of Gloucester. The mindes of people were filled with amazement, and the failing of such a promising government made most men infidels, or at least to question all things. But here was the greatest mischiefe of all: many were not wanting to debate upon the maine cause of the kingdom; malignant spirits took the advantage of our misery, and unstable minds, who beholding only the surface of things, and led by the common voice of their equals were flushed in prosperous times, now became crest-fallen, and questioned the passages of state, conceiving each miscarriage a fundamentall errour, and accounting their present sufferings not for religion and liberty, but some scruples of state policy. The state of things required strong resolution; the usual posture could not pretend to the safety of the place. The souldiers therefore acted with mindes more sturdy and vigorous as desperate concerning the enemy, but not in despaire of their owne party. The commanders reserved no place of retreat, and if causelesse jealousies over-clouded any, they put themselves upon a free declaration. The old and carefull souldiers who were unlucky in the censures of the people, upon the first arrivall of the sad newes from Bristoll, vented themselves in sharp and cutted speeches, which bursting from the fulnesse of the thoughts, did imprint and pierce, were received for good prognosticks, and repaired likewise that credit, which the presumpsion of a conceived opinion bore down, and an ordinary good behaviour could hardly raise up, but happily regained by one violent and severer passage. The officers were to give in a full resolve, that no place be left for an after dispute; wherefore they vowed never to see within the gates the face of a conquering enemy. But chiefly the hearts of the people were to be held up, wherefore the governour appeared in publicke, rode from place to place with a cheerfull aspect, and bearing before him no change in the sudden alteration of fortune. To them that enquired into his

very thoughts, he gave assurance of safety, concealing the danger, or lessening its esteem. Fear did not beget confusion, but things were transacted in a calm and constant order. The presages of misery were exquisitely shunned, and the least shew of distraction and weaknesse forbidden. Money, plate, valuable goods, or any kinde of riches were not suffered to passe the gates, but here to rest as in a safe treasury, that the people might resolve upon a happy deliverance or an utter destruction. Neverthelesse, whosoever was weak and faint-hearted, had leave to depart the city. Meanewhile the enemy dealt underhand, and by the mediation of seeming friends, affectionately sollicited a surrender, with terrible information of our manifold losses abroad, of the rage of the king's army, and inevitable desolation; and withall tendred the opportunity of an accommodation between his majesty and the citizens. The mouthes of the viler people were filled with curses against the authours of our engagements. We received strange intimations of dreadfull things concerning the state. The whole countrey forsook us, and employed some to represent their desires and thoughts of the businesse, who in the generall had so farre revolted from themselves, as to perswade us to make our peace with the enemy, and to befool and execrate our perseverance; for they conceived the standing out of Gloucester, however advantagious to the commonwealth, yet miserable for them; because by the falling down of a great army, they expected a destruction of corn and cattle, and if at last the king should not take in this place, to stoop perpetually under two burthens, and be cast into a remedilesse condition of misery and poverty. Whereas if the enemy should prevaile, they were sure to rest in the heart of the king's countrey, farre from spoile and plunder, and have as free and ample trade as in times of peace. The citizens examined their own strength and grounds of perseverance; a common councell was held, the officers being present, their late protestation brought to remembrance, by which