better than in one entire body: for such a chronicle, if it shall duely expresse the rise and progresse of things, must needs be perplexed with multiplicity of interwoven discourses, when three kingdomes are engaged, and no part in either of them stand free as spectators only of the common calamity; that the worke must either swell into a bulke misshapen and burdensome, or lye too narrow to comprize the severall parts in their just and perfect measures; but many single narrations doe more exactly delineate, give the truest colours, and put upon things the most unsuspected visage. Generall histories doe seldome approach the fountaine of action, and their glosse, though beautifull, yet more dull, cannot hold forth that native grace and lustre. Whereas there appeare in particular branches those lively sparklings and more secret motions of life and heate, which strike upon the fancy and intellect that can behold and reach them; besides they that gather up so many divided plots (as now acted) into one modell, are wont to endeavour after a smoother path, a greater harmony, and more exact symmetry of parts; whereas the face of things is conscious of more disproportion, sometimes a confusion of businesse, and the severall scenes may easily swerve from the originall plot; but the divided parts drawne in severall are not so constrained and racked, but come naked and more simple, and shew that the reason of the same counsells is one in the senate or conclave; another in the field, discovers the failing or the crosseworking of contrivances, how in the midst of action the maine landmarkes are waved, and many grand projects never reach their period. Out of all which the comparing faculty of a judicious observer may collect the mis-guidance or defects of policy; and see how the piercing subtilties of wit are broken and shattered by the course of things more knotty, rude, and violent; and this is the life of history, that ought to declare the delinquency of state as well as its accomplishment and perfection.

If the materialls of the worke be questioned whether fit to be

drawne up into one regular and compacted whole, and to make a standing monument, we also know that nothing in this kinde is to be thrust upon the world, since history doth intend to gratifie the future times with the remembrance of those things only which prudent men desire, and claime from such as pretend an interest and portion in the treasures of knowledge; it beares therefore before it nothing more than the thing itselfe gives forth, and which may finde acceptance with severer wits; for not only the remarkable changes of the universe, the grand periods of kingdomes and common-wealths, the chiefe and turning points of state affaires, but particular platformes, lives, examples, and emergent occasions also, are to be observed and laid up for posterity. More yet, those particularities, and minute passages are they that come home to men's businesse, approach their experience, and guide their course; but things more grand and lofty seeme to be turned upon the wheeles of Providence ; too high for the imitation of men. The worke of a politick or martiall man is to fixe his designe, and then to expect the accomplishment, not by one sudden or great atchievement, but by a series of many particles, and through an infinite variety of emergent occasions, and at last the maine turning point falls in by the over-ruling power of the universall cause; such are properly the workes of men into which they ought to enquire and search. Besides, the chiefe skill is not the generall knowledge of the maine undertaking, but a certaine dexterity in meeting every point, in working through many mazes and windings, since sundry passages of small purport intervene to disturb or promove it. Experience tells, that many universall schollars are the most uncouth persons to civill imployment, which so happens, because they study bookes more than the course of businesse, in which they gaze upon high objects, and binde themselves to the rigid observance of received canons; that if they venture amongst men, upon a slight accident unexpected, they sticke in the mire or runne a wrong course. We dislike not the taking up of

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well tryed principles, only by examples of all sorts must we learne to except and distinguish, and by consequence to use or abate the rigour of politicall maximes: neither doth it seldome come to passe that inferiour things over-rule, and a circumstance may be predominant. From such a low bottome and meane beginning are great things raised, and as their verticle point comes in an instant, so may they be turned upon a weake and slender hinge; yet we meane not those circumstances that are the inseparable attendants of every naturall action, but only such as are worthy, and have a morall influence; all which shun their understandings who respect only great, and excelse objects, which peradventure may flourish with ostentation and pompe, but if applyed unto the life of man bring forth an effect like the birth of the mountaines. And here we tender a naked comentary and true rehearsall of those things as deserve not wholly to be forgotten; if it be not full of rare changes which may grace the composure, and affect the reader; yet doth it give the full draught of a martiall command, and a true copy of the things it intends to expresse: it hath this advantage, in common with others of the like nature, that it can come forth to the censure of the present age without the guilt and shame of mistakes or flatteries. Authors more universall could never gaine to be stiled the writers of unquestionable verities, for they see at a greater distance, and by a more obscure and duskey light: certainly a nearer approach, and some kind of interest is required of him that desires to shew not only some tracke and foot-steps, but the expresse image of things, for whatsoever passes from hand to hand though upon the most undubitable authority, proves at the best but the image of a picture: for the best wit that takes things, though upon the surest trust, must needs fall short of the copy by which he writes, if not in beauty, yet in the truth and life thereof. The only danger in such as are intressed is, least they be partiall to their own side, or make the discourse more lofty than the stage can

reach; which mischiefe the deliberate thoughts of a serious man can prevent, and tell him that the unvayling of the defects, and misfortunes of his owne party doth evince the sincerity of the relation, and graceth it with more variety, than what the continuall streame of the height of gallantry and successe can yeeld; and which is most of all, doth demonstrate that at some times the designe was laide upon the principles of reason, and prosecuted with industry, whereas continuall victory is attributed to a certaine hidden felicity, and the bounty of Providence. Affection therefore receives a check from that man who is more true to his owne faction and ends, than to transgresse against the honour of that worke he takes in hand.

As for this military government, the power hereof hath rested in one command, and therefore doth more easily close into a single frame, yet not in a smooth and equall straine, but distinguished by many rises and falls: it is a branch almost divided from the maine stocke, and hath been put to live and act of itselfe: neverthelesse a branch still, and enlivened by the authority of the kingdomes soveraigne power, from which it receives an influence both of support and guidance: but its distance from the fountaine of power had derived upon the trustee a more free command, and made way for the perfect worke of a souldier, both counsell and action, which is the surest way to make such commands both active and prosperous.

The seate hereof lyes in the heart of the enemies country, like a forlorn hope, and is maintained not so much for its owne sake, or that so much ground might lie under a parliament power, but to divide the king's association, to stop his recruites, to scatter his forces, and continually to distract the designes of that army. Experience is witnesse of how great concernment it hath been to the safety of the common-wealth, not one place in the kingdome of England hath so much exhausted the enemies army, nor hath the

like advantage to ruine it: it can paine them at the heart, it is a fire kindled in their bowels, that might eate out their strength, had it been the felicity of the state to have sent hither a part of those great supplies which have been elsewhere expended, and done little towards the conclusion of the great worke.

If this collection shall present any thing that comes home to a civill life, or the imployment of a souldier, if it shall bring to minde acceptable services, and cause the people to remember the day of small things, with the power of active and faithfull endeavours, that observe and follow the Divine Providence, I shall not faile of my end: and I know that this my adventure is no more than what the action doth deserve, and the world may challenge.

THE ingagement of the city of Gloucester in this common cause of religion and liberty, first began when the houses of parliament declared to the kingdome their resolution of a defensive war: neither were its principall and active men drawne in by inferiour and accidentall motives, but quickened by the same principles in the maine, that did enliven and actuate the supreme court, expressing in themselves the very motions of a parliamentary spirit by an absolute and greedy compliance with every act that breathed towards the perfect health of the state, the severall remonstrances of both houses were received with all due respect, whereas no declaration sent from the other party, found the courtesie of a formall entertainment. It hath been the honour of that civill government, never to be guilty of the least act of disservice against that cause which their hearts wish might prevaile and prosper. Therefore when the fire kindled and fomented by Jesuited Papists and their adherents, was blowne up into a flame, and the heads of two parties appeared within this realme, the city of Gloucester determined not to stand neutrall in