strong party, occupied some part of the suburbs on the east side. The east and south ports were dammed up, and rammed with a thickness of earth, cannon proof; and the walls on that side, from port to port, were lined to the battlements, as the grand attack was expected from that quarter."

On the 12th, a party, commanded by Lieutenant Harcus, sallied forth through a door made for the purpose, in a brick house, near the town wall, on the south east part over against Rignall-stile, (making a bridge of ladders over the moat) and fell into the enemies trenches in Gawdy-green, and gained some advantages, without much loss. In the afternoon, Captain Gray, with 150 musketeers, sallied over the works at the Little Mead, and fell upon the Worcester forces, not yet joined by the Welch, at the Kingsholm, marching up to the main-guard, where they killed a Captain with eight or nine common soldiers, took five prisonners and divers arms, burnt their main-guard, and retreated without the loss of any.

On the 13th a battery was opened at Gawdy Green, against the wall and brick house over against Rignall-stile, by which one man was killed as he was peeping through, but no other mischief was done.

Next day, the cannon continued to play from Gawdy green, and battered the town wall on the south side of the Friar'sOrchard; but the breach was quickly made up with woolsacks and baskets. An attempt was also made to drain the moat, and the water was much sunk between the south and east ports. On the 15th, James Harcus, Captain Lieutenant to the Earl of Stamford, was killed in the Fryar's Orchard, as he was too venturously looking what execution a grenado had done, which he had thrown into the enemies trenches.

On the 16th, about 150 musketeers, commanded by Captain Crispe, sallied forth at the north port, and fell upon the enemies' trenches, upon the cast side of the Fryar's Orchard, and killed above a hundred men, and with some other advantages,

and only two men wounded, made good their retreat into the town. Every day produced more or less skirmishing, and on each side feats of valour were displayed; however, notwithstanding the strength of the royal forces, and the advantages they possessedin experienced officers and artillery, the progress was very slow; the enthusiasm of the inhabitants enabled them to brave the greatest dangers, to surpass the most formidable difficulties, and refuse the most artful solicitations and powerful arguments, in favour of the royal cause: the ardour and intrepidity displayed in the course of this siege, would have handed down to posterity the names of those who conducted it, with glorious triumph, if to guard the crown and preserve the integrity of the constitution had been the object of their perseverance.

September 4, the garrison conceived hopes of relief from the discovery of two fires on Wayn!oad hill, made by two messengers, whom they had sent out the night before to give intelligence if any succours were approaching; these signals were answered by lights in the College tower. On the following day the siege was raised; it bad been appointed for a public fast, and the fortunate coincidence of circumstances, produced the reflection, "that God had sent a deliverance, and that in the close of a solemn fast, as a gracious return of prayer."

That an army consisting of 30,000 men, well-disciplined, under able commanders, amply supplied with means of offence and of unquestionable loyalty, should invest a town so ill provided and weakly fortified, for 26 days, without the least impression made, or advantage gained on the place, justly excites surprise. Though abundantly provided with battering cannon and ammunition, they fired few shots in comparison of what might have been expected, and the granadoes which were thrown into the town, neither set fire to a single house, or killed a single person.

The final resolution of abandoning the attempt, is more

easily explained. "The friends of the Parliament saw the absolute necessity of relieving Gloucester, as the only means of supporting their cause: the recruit of the army was too slow for the service, and every thing seemed to depend on the London trained bands, but for some time it was a matter of doubt who should undertake the business. The Earl of Essex

was at length fixed upon, and that none might decline the service upon whom the lot should fall, the shop windows were commanded to be shut up, and trading for a time suspended: the expedition was hastened in every pulpit, and an army of 10,000 men, thus expeditiously raised, marched with incredible haste." Essex had with him two regiments of trained bands, three regiments of auxiliaries, and a regiment of horse, with eleven pieces of cannon, and three drakes, by way of reinforcements to his army.

August 24, the Earl mustered his forces on Hounslow Heath, and then took up his quarters at Colebrook; on the 26th he marched to Beconsfield, and so forward to Beerton, where he cloathed his army. Prince Rupert, with the greatest part of the King's horse, drew off from before Gloucester, to oppose their march, whilst the King carried on the siege. Scarce a day passed during the march without skirmishing, but the royal troops seldom gained any advantage. A reinforcement from London, joined the Earl on the first of September, at the general rendezvous on Brackley Heath; and then the whole proceeded on the route to Gloucester. The Prince attacked them at Stow, on the fourth of September, with 4,000 horse, but the loss on both sides was nearly equal. On the 5th, Essex advancing to Prestbury Hill, drew up his army in view of the city, and there discovered the huts in the King's camp, on fire, and the siege raised. "A warning piece was fired, but by reason of the contrary winds, the report was not heard, nor did the news reach the city that night. A fortunate circumstance this for the royal army; since had either the approach of Essex beey known, or their retreat dis

covered, during a tedious march through a tempestuous rainy night," and up a steep hill, the rear would probably have been extremely harrassed, by a soldiery flushed with success, and indignant on account of the difficulties they had experienced during a long siege.

The arrival of Essex at that period, was peculiarly seasonable to the garrison, for " all things were prepard by the royal army for a general storm; their ammunition nearly consumed, only three barrels of powder left in the magazine, and not so much elsewhere;" their provisions also were alarmingly reduced, the granary being almost empty. During the siege, however, their actual loss was comparatively small; not more than fifty were taken or slain, while of the assailants, on the lowest calculation, a thousand at least were killed.

To the royal cause, the raising of the siege was a fatal blow; for it was the only remaining garrison, possessed by the parliament in these parts, and could that have been reduced, the King would have held the whole course of the Severn under his command: “and the granary of the kingdom in the heart of his country, on the west bounded by the sea, clear through the middle of the land to the northern parts, where also the Earl of Newcastle's army prevailed, and in breadth, reaching from the utmost Wales to the London Association, and backed with Ireland, with whom an accommodation was then preparing."

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Many attemps were afterwards made to recover the city by force, but without success. Recourse was then had to others more secret, but less honourable. An attempt was made by Lieut.-Col. Stanford, to corrupt the fidelity of Capt. Backhouse, once his friend and acquaintance. For this purpose he held out to him the promise of the King's pardon, and a considerable reward, if he would deliver the city into their hands. The letter was immediately shown to the Governor, and it was agreed that the Colonel should be deluded by a seeming compliance, and a correspondence was accordingly

opened between them. Ten weeks were spent in maturing the plot, the terms settled, and at a meeting on Corse-lawn, between Stanford and Backhouse, without arms or attendants, the latter received two hundred pounds in hand, and in part of five thousand he was to receive on conclusion of the business. On Feb. 15, as it had been agreed upon, the guards were drawn off from the further bridge, the sentinels taken in, and a messenger was despatched from Gloucester to the enemies' quarters, with the watch-word for their assurance and some private directions for their march up the town; and Backhouse himself was to wait at the gate, which he undertook to set open, if they came by nine o'clock, or within half an hour after. The ports were then privately shut up round the city, trusty sentinels set, the Governor called a council of war, acquainted the officers with the plot, and gave orders that citizens and soldiers should that night continue in arms; three pieces of ordnance were drawn to the Westgate, and four stout men were placed in a boat under the main arch of Over's Bridge, with direction, that upon the firing of the first ordnance, they should cut a cable rope, and the arch would then fall in the river. "The enemy advanced with their whole body of horse and foot, but before they came within a mile and a half of the city, it was open day, and thus having lost the time by the slowness of their march, they durst not advance, but instantly retreated to Newent." Attempts were afterwards made to draw them into the snare, but without effect, as they had received information of Backhouse's treachery. The last effort made to reduce Gloucester, was by Sir William Vavasour, who was equally unsuccessful.

The important services performed by Massie and the garrison, called forth the thanks of the parliament, whose cause they had so steadily supported, and the following rewards were voted by both houses of parliament on the 15th September. One thousand pounds to the Governor; proportionate largesses to the inferior officers, and a month's pay over and