for ever to all claim upon the King's part for a victory, yet, on the other hand, it is not less true, that the Earl of Manchester was not disposed to fight again next day. He perhaps exaggerated his losses, which were indeed severe, but it is almost certain that both he and Essex were afraid of gaining a complete and overpowering victory;—and if so, surely it is almost impossible to blame them, enlightened as we are by the subsequent history of that sad period, and able, consequently, to estimate with accuracy the ideas and actions of the leading partizans on both sides. In the meantime, Cromwell, though the discipline which he enforced upon his Ironsides, compelled him in his turn to obey the orders of his superior officer, was furious at the Earl's irresolution. Old Noll, we all know, whether he did God or Satan's business, was none of those who do the work before them negligently. He urged, prayed, stormed;-he all but threatened in the camp at Newbury, and from the camp sent up to Westminster despatches full of bitter murmurs and remonstrances. A few weeks later, Donnington Castle was again relieved by Charles, and all the royal cannon carried off in triumph. (28) Then Cromwell rose in the House of Commons, and openly charged Manchester with disaffection. The Earl retorted that Lieutenant-General Cromwell's accusation was unjust, and that Oliver himself desired not "19th Sept. 1643.-Dinner in the field, Newbury, to supper and bed, Mr. Coxe's and on Wednesday, the 20th, the great battle, [the first fight] was struck there "October, 1644, Tuesday, the 22.-To Newbury--Master Dunce [Dunch];-V, [night's residence] Dinner at Kings-cleer. "Sunday the [2] 7.—A great and second battle between His Majesty's army and the Parliamentarians, by the same hands His Majestie had disarmed and shewn mercy to at Lostwithiel, wherein His Majestie had much the better of the day, and yet was advised to desert the field, whereby. His Majestie marched to meet Prince Rupert at Bath, &c. 'Sunday, the 27th.-From Donyngton Castle, marching all night, and on Monday, the 28th, came to Bath, and there 66 'Saturday, 9 [November, 1644].-To Donyngton Castle, where was a great skirmish with the Parliamentarians in Newbury field, whence we retreated, and lay on the Castle all night." (28) "Ter frustrà ad deditionem vocatus, Boysius Gubernator, trinam hostium aggressionem animosè repulit. Tempus adeò protraxit vir strenuus, ut Rex Arci subvenerit, abductis quæ illic deposuerat tormentis."-Com. p. 102. 31 peace as the reward of war, but sought the overthrow of the Crown, the Church, and the Nobility. (29) The dispute, which terminated in the self-denying ordinance, and, as a consequence, led to the decapitation of King Charles, and the temporary overthrow of monarchy in England,—was for some time maintained with acrimony on both sides, perhaps its real merits may be best summed up in the aphorism with which I conclude this paper-"THERE IS NO VIC TORY IN CIVIL WARS THAT CAN GIVE THE CONQUEROR A PERFECT TRIUMPH." (29) Sir Roger Manley's Commentaries are copious in information upon this point, but I forbear to cite them further. Mr. Carlyle, who always writes, but who almost as invariably distorts English with great earnestness and vigour, says on this point:-"To Cromwell and the thorough-going party it had become very clear, that high Essexes and Manchesters of limited notions and large estates and anxieties, who besides their fear of being themselves beaten utterly, and forfeited and hanged, were afraid of beating the King too well, would never end that course in a good way."-Life and Correspondence of Oliver Cromwell, part 2 p. 260. It seems to me a pity that so eminent an author as Mr. Carlyle, who seldom pens a sentence save to enlighten and instruct his readers, should persevere, he is daily growing worse and worse in this respect,-in these affected mannerisms and quaint absurdities of phraseology. For my own part, I seldom either take up or lay down any of his volumes without apostrophizing him mentally in the words of Prior :-- "Prythee quit thy romance, and, as old Falstaff says, Let us e'en talk, a little like folks of this world." Lucy Hutchinson wrote two centuries ago-yet when that high hearted matron narrates the facts which Mr. Carlyle compels his readers to disentangle from the cloud of verbiage and antithesis in which he delights to involve them,-mark how simply yet effectively she tells her story. "It was too apparent how much the whole Parliament cause had been often hazarded, how many opportunities of finishing the war had been overslipped by the Earl of Essex's army; and it was believed that he himself with his commanders, rather endeavoured to become arbiters of war and peace than conquerors for the Parliament, for it was known he had given out such expressions-wherefore those in the Parliament, who were grieved at the prejudice of the public interest, and loath to bring those men to public shame, who had once well merited it of them, devised to new model the army; and an ordinance was made called the self- denying ordinance, &c., &c., &c.”—Mem. Col. Hutchinson, Bohn's Edit., 12mo., 1846, p. 231 and note. P.S.-I have been urged by several friends, for whose opinions I entertain sincere respect, to prefix a plan to the foregoing essay :after much consideration however, I decline availing myself of their kind suggestions. Cavaliers and Roundheads twice encountered each other in arms at Newbury, within little more than twelve months,—and both fights took place so nearly on the selfsame ground, that besides the almost insuperable difficulty occasioned by the changes which time, peace, and high civilization have since effected upon the face of the country, at least two sketches would have been required to give the reader an idea of the true positions of the contending armies. Such outline maps, if accurate, and tolerably well executed, would have been expensive, and “Le jeu ne vaudroit pas les chandelles." The same objections apply still more forcibly to a battle-field engraving or illustrated frontispiece, which of course, however great the artist's merits, could but pourtray one charge or military movement. "For painting mute and motionless, I have striven earnestly and loyally to tell my tale intelligibly, sparing no pains in searching for authorities, and giving,—consciously at least-no undue preference to the chroniclers of either party, yet I feel, and fear my readers will feel, something wanting,—and that want I cannot readily supply. Nineteen full centuries have elapsed since Cæsar wrote his Commentaries, nor in our own day may we hope to see a second Napier;—yet one great painter of military word-portraits lingers still amongst us, and from a noble poem of Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton's (a) I select the stanzas which depict a stern encounter betwixt fierce Rupert and undaunted Oliver. "A gay and glittering band, Pale in the midst that stately squadron boast With sparkling eye and dauntless mien, The young Achilles of the host. (b) On rolls the surging war—and now Along the closing columns ring "Rupert" and "Charles!" "The Lady of the Crown!" (c) "St. George, and England's king!" A stalwart and a sturdy band Whose souls of sullen zeal, Are made by the immortal hand A kneeling host,-a pause of prayer,- The dreamer's heart beat high and loud, (a) Cromwell's Dream. (b) Prince Rupert. (c) Henrietta Maria; a popular watchword with the Cavaliers. |