last; where I stayed somewhat long for the coming-up of the Body of Horse, which your Honour was pleased to give me the command of. After the coming whereof, I marched with all expedition to Wheatley-Bridge; having sent before to MajorGeneral Browne, for what intelligence he could afford me of the state of affairs in Oxford (I being not so well acquainted in those parts), of the condition, and number, of the Enemy in Oxford. Who himself informed me by letters, That Prince Maurice his forces were not in Oxford, as I supposed; and that, as he was informed by four very honest and faithful Gentlemen that came out of Oxford to him a little before the receipt of my letter, there were Twelve pieces of Ordnance with their carriages and wagons, ready for their march; and in another place Five more pieces with their carriages, ready to advance with their Convoy.

After I received this satisfaction from Major-General Browne, I advanced this morning, - being Thursday, the twenty-fourth of April, near to Oxford. There I lay before the Enemy; who perceiving it at Oxford, and being in readiness to advance, sent out a party of Horse against me: part of the Queen's Regiment, part of the Earl of Northampton's Regiment, and part of the Lord Wilmot's Regiment;—who made an infall upon me.

-

Whereupon, I drew forth your Honour's Regiment, lately mine own, against the Enemy (who had drawn themselves into several Squadrons, to be ready for action); - and commanded your Honour's own Troop therein, to charge a Squadron of the Enemy. Who performed it so gallantly that, after a short firing, they entered the whole Squadron, and put them to a confusion. And the rest of my Horse presently entering after them, they made a total rout of the Enemy; and had the chase of them three or four miles; and killed Twohundred; took as many prisoners, and about Four-hundred horses. 'Also' the Queen's colours, richly embroidered, with the Crown in the midst, and eighteen flower-de-luces wrought all about in gold, with a golden cross on the top. Many escaped to Oxford, and divers were drowned.

Part of them likewise betook themselves to a strong House in Bletchington; where Colonel Windebank kept a Garrison, with near Two-hundred horse and foot therein. Which, after surrounding it, I summoned: - but they seemed very dilatory in their answer. At last, they sent out Articles to me of Surrender, which I have sent your Honour enclosed:* and after a large treaty thereupon, the Surrender was agreed upon between us. They left behind them between Two and Three hundred muskets, Seventy horses; besides other arms and ammunition. I humbly rest,

Your honour's humble servant,

No. 7.

OLIVER CROMWELL.S

BATTLE OF NASEBY. BURIAL OF COLONEL PICKERING. Two LETTERS CONCERNING ELY.

[Vol. i. p. 212, 336.]

(a.) THE following very rough Notes of a studious Tourist will perhaps be acceptable to some readers. Notes dashed down evidently in the most rough-and-ready manner, but with a vigilant eye both on the Old Books and on the actual Ground of Naseby; taken, as appears, in the year 1842.

1

"Battle of Naseby, 14th June 1645: From Sprigge (London, "1647); Rushworth, vi. (London, 1701); Old Pamphlets; and "the Ground.

"Fairfax's Stages towards Naseby (Sprigge, p. 30 et seqq.). "Wednesday, 11th June, a rainy day: Marched 'from Stony "Stratford to Wootton,' three miles south of Northampton. "Bad quarters there: 'but the Mayor came,' &c. - Thursday, "12th June: From Wootton to (not 'Guilsborough four miles "west of Northampton,' as Sprigge writes, but evidently) "Kislingbury and the Farmsteads round. The King 'lies encamped on Burrough Hill' (five miles off); has been hunting,' "this day: 'his horses all at grass.' The night again wet; "Fairfax, riding about, all night, on the spy is stopped by one "of his own sentries, &c.; 'at Flower' (near Weedon), sees the "King's Forces all astir on the Burrough Hill, about four in the "morning; 'firing their huts;' rapidly making off, - North* Given in Rushworth, vi. 24.

§ King's Pamphlets, small 4to, no. 203, § 7.

"ward, as it proved. At six, a Council of War. Cromwell, "greatly to our joy, has just come-in from the Associated "Counties, 'received with shouts.' Major Harrison, with "horse, is sent towards Daventry to explore; Ireton, also with "horse, to the Northward, after the King's main-body. "We,' "Fairfax's main-body, now set forward towards Harborough,' "flanking the King; and that night, — Friday, 13th June, "arrive (not at Gilling,' as Sprigge has it,is there any such "place? but) at Guilsborough.* Which is the last of the "Stages.

"The King's van is now, this Friday night, at Harborough; "his rear is quartered in Naseby, - where Ireton beats them up "(probably about half-past nine), 'taking prisoners,' &c.: and "so the fugitives rouse the King out of his bed 'at Luben"ham;'** who thereupon drives-off to Prince Rupert at "Harborough; arrives about midnight; calls a Council ('rest"ing himself in a chair in a low room,' till Rupert and the rest "get on their clothes); and there, after debate, *** determines on turning back to beat the Roundheads for this affront. "Ireton lies at Naseby, therefore; 'we' (Fairfax and the Army), "at Guilsborough, all this night.

"Battle of Naseby. Saturday, 14th June 1645. Starting "at three in the morning, we arrive about five at Naseby. King "reported to be at Harborough,' uncertain whitherward next: "behold, great bodies of his troops are seen coming over the "Hill from Harborough towards us;' he has turned, and is "for fighting us then! We put our Army in order, 'large "fallow field northwest of Naseby,' 'the brow of the Hill running "east and west' 'for something like a mile:" King has sunk out "of sight in a hollow; but comes up again nearer us,† and "now evidently drawn-out for battle. We fall back, about a hundred paces, from the brow of the Hill,' to hide ourselves "and our plans: he rushes on the faster, thinking we run "(much of his ordnance left behind'): the Battle joins on the "very brow of the Hill. Their word, Queen Mary; ours, God is our Strength.

"About Three-hundred Musketeers of ours on the Left Wing, "are advanced a little, as a forlorn, down the steep of the Hill;

* Rushworth, vi. 46 (Despatch from the Parliament Commissioners). ** See Iter Carolinum, too. *** See Clarendon, &c.

"At Sibbertoft" (Rushworth).

"

"they retire firing, as Rupert charges up: Ireton and Skippon "command in this quarter; 'Lantford Hedges,' a kind of "thicket which runs right down the Hill, is lined with Colonel "Okey and his dragoons, all on foot at present, and firing "lustily on Rupert as he gallops past. Cromwell is on the ex"treme Right (easternmost part of the Hill): he, especially "Whalley under him, dashes down before the Enemy's charge "upwards (which is led by Langdale) can take effect; scatters "said charge to the winds; not without hard cutting: a good "deal impeded 'by furze-bushes' and 'a cony-warren.' These "Royalist Horse, Langdale's, fled all behind their own Foot, "a quarter of a mile from the Battle-ground,' - i. e. near to the "present Farm of Dust Hill, or between that and Clipstow; "and never fought again. So that Cromwell had only to keep "them in check; and aid his own Main-battle to the left of him: "which he diligently did.

over

"Our Right Wing, then, has beaten Langdale. But Rupert, 86 on the other side of the field, beats back our Left: "Rutput Hill,' 'Fenny Hill' (Fanny Hill, as the Old Books call "it); towards Naseby Hamlet; on to our Baggage-train (which "stands on the northwest side of the Hamlet, eastward of said "Rutput' and 'Fenny,' but northward of 'Leane Leafe Hill,' "very sober "Hills,' I perceive!). Our extreme Left was "hindered by pits and ditches' in charging, at any rate, it lost "the charge; fled: and Rupert now took to attacking the Bag"gage and its Guard, in vain, and with very wasteful delay. "For our Main-battle too was in a critical state; and might have "been overset, at this moment. Our Main-battle, -our Horse on the Left of it giving way; and the King's Foot 'coming up "into sight, over the brow of the Hill, 'with one terrible "volley, and then with swords and musket-butts, 'mostly all

66

'fled. Mostly all: except the Officers, who 'snatched the "colours,' 'fell into the Reserves with them,' &c. And then, "said Reserves now rushing on, and the others rallying to them; "and Cromwell being victorious and diligent on the Right, and Rupert idle among the Baggage on the Left, the whole "business was erelong retrieved; and the King's Foot and other "Force were all driven pell-mell down the Hill: towards Dust "Hill (or eastward of the present Farm-house, I think). There "the King still stood, joined at last by Rupert, and strug"gling to rally his Horse for another brush; but the Foot would "not halt, the Foot were all off: and the Horse too, seeing

"Cromwell with all our Horse and victorious Foot now again "ready for a second charge, would not stand it; but broke; and "dissipated, towards Harborough, Leicester, and Infinite "Space.

"The Fight began at ten o'clock;* lasted three hours:** "there were some Five-thousand Prisoners; how many Slain I "cannot tell."

(b.) Colonel Pickering, a distinguished Officer, whose last notable exploit was at the storm of Basing House, has caught the epidemic, "new disease" as they call it, some ancient influenza very prevalent and fatal during those wet winter-operations; and after a few days' illness, "at Autree" (St. Mary Ottery) where the headquarter was, is dead. Sir Gilbert, his brother, is a leading man in Parliament, with much service yet before him; Cousin Dryden, one day to be Poet Dryden, is in Northamptonshire, a lad of fourteen at present. Sprigge (p. 156) has a pious copy of "sorrowful verse over dear Colonel Pickering's hearse;" and here is a Note concerning his funeral. To Colonel Cicely at Pendennis Castle: These.

SIR,

Tiverton, 10th December 1645.

It's the desire of Sir Gilbert Pickering that his deceased Brother, Colonel Pickering, should be interred in your Garrison; and to the end his Funeral may be solemnised with as much honour as his memory calls for, you are desired to give all possible assistance therein. The particulars will be offered to you by his Major, Major Jubbs, *** with whom I desire you to concur herein.

And believe it, Sir, you will not only lay a huge obligation upon myself and all the Officers of this Army, but I dare assure you the General himself will take it for an especial favour, and will not let it go without a full acknowledgment. But what need I prompt him to so honourable an action whose own ingenuity will be argument sufficient herein? Whereof rests assured Your humble servant, OLIVER CROMWELL.§

* Clarendon.

*** "Gubbs," he writes.

**Cromwell's Letter.

§ Polwhele's Traditions and Recollections (London, 1826), i. 22: with a Note on Cicely, and reference to "the Original among the Family Papers of the Rev. G. Moore, of Grampound."