XXV. perceive how thoroughly the parliament was in CHAP. the right who would admit of nothing but propositions to be offered to him, for his acceptance or 1646. rejection. ings of the them. To meet however the king's importunity re- Proceedspecting coming to London, the parliament re- two houses solved to separate certain propositions from the respecting rest, to be presently sent to him for his acceptance. And it appears to have been understood, though it is no where expressed in the votes, that, if he assented to these, he was to be invited to repair to the metropolis for completing the treaty P. Owing however to the rapid succession of events, this overture was never made. • Journals of Commons, Jan. 26, 27, 30. of Lords, Feb. 2. P Baillie, Vol. II, p. 176, 190. 124 XXVI. 1646. CHAPTER XXVI. CHESTER SURRENDERED.-DEFEAT OF HOPTON FRESH MESSAGE FROM THE KING.-PRECAU- CHAP. EARLY in February Chester was surrendered to the parliament. This was an important event, as Chester was the special point at which forces surrender could most advantageously be landed from Ireland for the support of Charles's designs a. Chester ed. March and countermarch of Hopton. The remains of the royal army in the west continued under the command of Hopton: but, as discipline had long been at a low ebb among them, so the apparent desperateness of their cause rendered it almost impossible to prevail on them to face the enemy. Their commander however led them from Cornwal as far east as Torrington, where they were in a manner intrenched, and in security from attack. Fairfax in the mean while came up with them in the middle of February; and, by the gallantry of his own troops, and the XXVI. heartlessness of the royalists, speedily drove them CHAP. to flight, and immediately followed them into Cornwal b Here every thing was in the most hopeless state; and the condition of the prince of Wales, who was nominally the generalissimo, became exceedingly precarious. He had wintered in Cornwal, having in the course of the season made one or two excursions into the nearer part of Devon ; but, at the time of the retreat of Hopton, and the advance of Fairfax into the extreme county, he happened to be at Pendennis; from whence it was judged proper that he should take to sea : and he accordingly landed in Scilly on the fourth of March c. 1646. Prince of Wales quits army dis Hopton was left with his small and disobedient Hopton's army, to make an end of his embarrassments as solved. he could. His soldiers, and even his officers, engaged in familiar intercourse with the followers of Fairfax, but could by no means be induced to contend with them in fight. Fairfax saw the situation of the enemy, and opened an intercourse with Hopton in that generous and beautiful tone which peculiarly distinguished this accomplished commander. He offered liberal terms to all the members of his army, upon condition of their no further serving against the parliament. "Lastly," Beautiful Fairfax to mander. letter of the com XXVI. 1646. CHAP. he proceeded, " for yourself, you may be assured of such mediation to the parliament on your behalf both from myself and others, as may become us towards one, whom, for personal worth, and many virtues, but especially for your care of and moderation towards the country, we honour and esteem above any of your party; whose error, supposing you more swayed with principles of honour and conscience than others, we most pity; and whose happiness, so far as is consistent with the public welfare, we should delight in, more than in your least suffering d." On the fourteenth of March, Hopton's forces were disbanded, and their commander embarked to join the prince of Wales in Scilly. Astley ontirely de feated. One closing attempt was made, to enable the king again to take the field. Sir Jacob Astley was detached from the garrison of Worcester, with three thousand men, the greater part cavalry, to favour the purpose of Charles to quit the walls of Oxford, and appear against the enemy. It was the king's design by rapid marches, and declining the fortune of an engagement, to augment his number with recruits, and wait the promised reinforcements from Ireland or from the continent. Mean while his hopes were nipped in the bud. The royalists from Oxford advanced with fifteen hundred men to favour the junction. But all in 4 Rushworth, Vol. VI, p. 105. XXVI. 1646. telligence was so intercepted between the parties, CHAP. that a body of forces collected from the neighbouring garrisons fell upon Astley's detachment, before he could obtain the smallest information concerning his friends. The resistance was spirited; but the victory on the side of the parliament was complete. The engagement took place on the twenty-first of March, at Stow on the Wold in the county of Gloucester. Astley himself, sir Charles Lucas, his second in command, and sixteen hundred men were made prisoners. Astley, a rough soldier, but a firm adherent to his king, addressed his captors in these words: "You have done your work, my masters, and may now go play; unless it is your pleasure to fall out among yourselves e." from the parliament to the rince of Wales. It was no sooner known that the prince of Invitation Wales was departed for Scilly, than the two houses of parliament, apprehensive that he might pass from thence into France, and be there nurtured in the principles of the Roman Catholic faith, voted that an invitation should be sent to him, to desire him to come into the parliament's quarters, and to reside in such place, with such council and attendants about him, as the two houses should think fit to appoint. The select propositions, intended with all prac- Slow pro e Ibid. p. 140. Clarendon, p. 753. Whitlocke, Mar. 23. f Journals, Mar. 17, 18. |