1642-3. of this expedition was an encounter at Padsworth, where he obtained Feb. 20. some advantage over a party of the royalists, and put them to flight. [75] It may be inferred, but does not appear, that he continued his course to Gloucester; for it is insinuated that his object was to furnish them with some pecuniary relief. Yet, notwithstanding the collections said to have been made for them, Corbet expressly asserts, that " no monies came "from the state," and that the troops were mutinous and desperate for want of pay. [76] Feb. 28. Lord Herbert, who had been made lieutenant general of South Wales, had raised a little army of above fifteen hundred foot, and nearly five hundred horse, which, about the middle of February, marched towards Gloucester. On their way through the forest of Dean, they were opposed at Coleford by a party of parliamentarians under the command of Colonel Berrowe, who with some of the country people had barricadoed the town; where from a window they shot Major General Lawdey and two other officers. [77] The Welch, however, forced their passage, took prisoners Lieutenant Colonel Winter and some inferior officers and common soldiers, and put the rest to flight, advancing to Highnam house, within two miles of the city. There they threw up entrenchments which commanded the Forest, Ross and Newent roads; while Prince Maurice, on the east and north, was harassing the country up to the gates. Major General Sir Jerome Brett, who succeeded Lawdey, sent in a summons, which was received with scorn. In the articles for an armistice proposed by the parliament, ostensibly with a view to a treaty of peace, it was stipulated, "That no siege shall "be begun or continued against Gloucester, and that his majesty's "forces now employed in the siege shall return to Cirencester and "Malmsbury, or to Oxford, as shall be most for their conveniency; and "the Parliament forces which are in Gloucestershire, shall remain in the "cities of Gloucester, Bristol, and the castle and town of Berkeley, or "retire nearer to Windsor, as they may see cause; and that those of "Wales which are drawn to Gloucester, shall return into their quarters, "where they were before they drew down to Gloucestershire." [78] Negociations were carried on at Oxford by commissioners during March and part of April, when all hope of an accommodation ceased. [79] ever. Among other proposals on the part of the king, is one, which has for its object the restraint of plundering during the suspension of hostilities: but he complains that the parliament took no notice of it: [80] hostilities never totally ceased, and plundering was continued as grievously as Gloucestershire at this juncture suffered from the royalists no less than three several times; [81] and Charles seemed sensible of the excesses committed under plea of raising contributions, when he issued a proclamation from Oxford, dated March the thirteenth, in which he requires his officers and soldiers to abstain from violence to any of his loving subjects of the county, and from taking away their horses on any pretence whatsoever. Devastations of this kind were committed upon an extensive scale over the whole theatre of the war, [S2] till in many cases, nothing was left in the houses but lumber. [83] People fled into garrison towns, for security with wives and children, and what little they could rescue from the hands of the spoilers. Such of the loyal clergy as continued in their parsonages, were marked objects to the parliamentary soldiers. The house of the rector of Minchinhampton, Henry Fowler, was plundered by some of the garrison with many circumstances of wanton cruelty. [84] It had been the wish of the king that the assizes should be continued as usual; but this the parliament prevented: So violence Proceeded, and oppression and sword law. [85] 1642-3. It has been related that Colonel Thomas Essex had gained possession of Bristol, which he held for the parliament, though there was a strong loyal party in the place. Several points in his character and conduct having rendered his fidelity questionable, Colonel Nathaniel Fiennes, who was despatched thither, to reinforce the garrison, [86] arrested Thomas Essex, and sent him away; [87] and a few days after he detected a design to secure the city for the king. Communication upon this subject had been held with Prince Rupert and Lord Digby, who drew thither from Basingstoke, with four thousand horse and two thousand foot, and on Tuesday, March the seventh, appeared upon March 7. Durdham Down. It had been concerted by some of the principal inhabitants to surprise the main and other guards; to assemble all their 1642-3. friends by the tolling of bells and to open Froome gate to the royal army. But at midnight, the conspirators were seized, just as they were about to put their plot into execution. Prince Rupert and his men, waiting for the signal, watched beside their fires upon the Down till the morning; when, perceiving that the design had been thwarted, they retired towards Cirencester and Oxford. [88] The Welch under Sir Jerome Brett, vainly expecting the co-operation of Prince Rupert, had remained idle five weeks at Highnam. They had occasionally been kept on the alert by Massey from the vineyard, an ancient palace of the bishops of Gloucester, within half a mile distance upon the right bank of the Severn; but he was too weak to attempt any thing of consequence against them, as they greatly outnumbered him, even after he had been reinforced by Captain John Fiennes from Bristol, with two hundred horse and dragoons. In this state matters remained till a plan was settled between the deputy governor and Sir William Waller, for a more formidable attack upon the post. Waller was then in that full career of victory, which had obtained for him the title of "the conqueror." Flushed with success from the taking of Malmsbury, in a night march, he made a demonstration towards Cirencester, whence turning suddenly to the west, by one of those rapid movements for which he was so celebrated, he traversed Gloucestershire, crossed the Severn at Framilode passage, unchecked and unperceived, in the face of day, and pushed forward to Huntley, on the evening of the March 23. twenty-third of March. Massey, according to their mutual arrangement, had been attacking Highnam house on that day, and the assault March 24. was renewed at sun-rise. The enemy, who were more than double his number, sallied out, and would probably have had the advantage, had not Waller made his appearance on the other side, when on the report of one of his guns, (his warning piece), the Gloucester soldiers rushed on and stormed a redoubt, and a parley was sounded. The Welch, though urged by their officers, refused to take advantage of a dark and rainy night to effect their escape, and in the morning laid down their arms. The greater part of the horse, under Lord John Somerset, being at some distance, retired without molestation. [89] "When they had yielded, the blue regiment commanded by Dennis Wise, the mayor of Gloucester, surrounded them: [90] they were found 1642-3. to consist of about one hundred and fifty officers, and one thousand four hundred and forty-four common men, [91] a number equal to the united forces of Waller and Massey. They led them into Gloucester; and, according to the statement of one of the prisoners, the procession March 25. in pairs reached from Highnam almost to the city; they locked them up in Saint Mary de Lode and Trinity churches, and a strong guard was set over them; Saint Mary's alone held nearly fifteen hundred. The subject of prisoners has already been mentioned. Corbet upon this occasion vindicates and contrasts the conduct of his own party with that of their enemies. [92] But it does not appear that the parliamentarians, out of London, in all respects treated their inferior prisoners while they had them in their keeping with more attention. Those who agreed to serve against the king were soon set at liberty; and the rest, after taking the usual protestation, [93] were sent home; some of the officers were permitted to ransom themselves; and others were transferred to Bristol, where they remained till that city fell into the king's hands. In fact they were glad to dismiss so many useless mouths from Gloucester. However, it is but justice to observe that during the ten days that they were held in close confinement, the whole of the provision of bread distributed to the privates, at the expense of the city, cost no more than eighteen pounds nineteen shillings; and this seems to have been their only allowance. The evidence of the individual above alluded to, confirms their ill-treatment: they were eager to obtain the refuse of raw vegetables to satisfy their hunger; and if their friends brought any thing to them, it was taken away by the guard. It would be some satisfaction to be enabled to prove that this was in part occasioned by a scantiness of provisions in the city. It is affirmed, that about this time, (it might be somewhat later,) they laid in a considerable store. Certainly in a district exposed to the waste of war, and subjected to such frequent pillage, it behoved the principal city, stocked with an increasing and distressed population, to anticipate supplies. Though the victory at Highnam was depreciated by many of the royalists as much as it was extolled by the triumphant party, in a pecu 1642-3. 1643. niary view it was a serious loss to the king. It was said to be obtained over a mushroom army, whose want of courage rendered their capture and dispersion a matter of little regret; but the efforts and expense of those who had assembled it, taught them to think very differently. Clarendon heard Lord Herbert assert, that the outfit and preparations connected with it, had cost upwards of sixty thousand pounds. [94] The effect of this blow was the evacuation of Tewkesbury, by Sir Matthew Carew; Captain John Fiennes took possession of it in a few hours after, and was compelled in his turn to retire the same day before a superior force under Lord Grandison from Cheltenham. In the beginning of April, Sir William Waller advanced into Mon. April 1. mouthshire, where he wearied himself to little purpose among the rocky and impracticable roads; met with no opposition, and established no authority. Prince Maurice, ordered by the king to follow him, passed the river at Tewkesbury, upon a bridge of boats, with two thousand horse and foot, and took up a line to intercept him across the forest of Dean, from Newnham upon the Severn to Ross upon the Wye. As soon as Waller heard of it, he commenced his retreat; [95] sent his foot, April 10. baggage, and artillery by water from Chepstow to Aust; and marched all night with his horse, to steal or force a passage through the enemy. Retarded by an accident, he came up with them at Newnham too late in the morning for a surprise: but he skirmished with them at that place, and at Little Dean; and with the loss of a few of his rear, brought his men off to Gloucester. [96] He encreased his reputation by this achievement; but it was attended with no common hazard; and his own account shews us that he was thoroughly sensible of the risk that he had incurred; and that he duly appreciated his escape. "In my retreat from Chepstow, when prince Maurice had laid all the passages between that and Gloucester, with a very considerable army "to intercept me, I had no way left but to transport my foot and traine "of artillery cross the Severn to Barkley Castle, (from whence they had a secure march), and with my horse and dragoones to beat through "his quarters. Upon my march that night through the forest of Dean, " itt happened, thorough the sleepiness of an officer, that the main body |