ed the conflict with equal ardour; but in spite of the efforts of Fairfax and Skippon, their batta lious began to give way. But it was now that Cromwell returned with his victorious forces, and charged the king's infantry in flank with such vi gour, that a total rout began to ensue. By this time prince Rupert had rejoined the king and the small body of reserve; but his troops, though vic torious, could not be brought to a second charge. They were at all times licentious and ungoverna-, ble; but they were now intimidated; for the par-, liamentarians having recovered from the first shock, stood ready in order of battle to receive them.. The king was desirous of charging them at the head of his reserve: but the earl of Carnwath, who rode by his majesty's side, seizing the bridle of his horse, turned him round, saying, with a loud oath, "Will you go upon your death in an "instant" The troops seeing this motion, wheeled to the right, and rode off in such confu sion, that they could not be rallied again during the rest of the day. The king perceived the battle wholly lost, was obliged to abandon the field to his enemies, who took all his cannon, baggage, and above five thousand prisoners.

This fatal blow the king never after recovered; his army was dispersed, and the conquerors made as many captives as they thought proper. Among the other spoils taken on this occasion, the king's cabinet of letters was seized, in which was con→ · tained all his private correspondence with the queen. These were shortly after published by the command of the parliament, who took a vulgar and brutal pleasure in ridiculing all those tender effusions which were never drawn up for the public eye.

The battle of Naseby put the parliamentarians in possession of almost all the strong cities of the kingdom,

VOL. III.

-I

kingdom, Bristol, Bridgewater, Chester, Sherburn, and Bath. Exeter was besieged; and all the king's troops in the western counties being entirely dispersed, Fairfax pressed the place, and it surrendered at discretion. The king's interests seemed going to ruin on every quarter. The Scotch army, which, as has been said, took part with the parliament,having made themselves masters of Carlisle after an obstinate siege, marched south and laid siege to Hereford. Another engagement followed between the king and the parliamentarians, in which his forces were put to the rout by colonel Jones, a thousand of his men made prisoners, and five hundred slain. Thus surrounded, harassed on every side, he retreated to Oxford, that in all conditions of his fortune had held steady to his cause; and there he resolved to offer new terms to his victorious pursuers.

Nothing could be more affecting than the king's situation during his abode at Oxford. Saddened by his late melancholy disasters, impressed with the apprehensions of such as hung over him, harrassed by the murmurs of those who had followed his cause, and stung with sorrow for his incapacity to relieve them. He now was willing to grant the › parliament their own terms, and at any rate to procure a reconciliation. He therefore sent them repeated messages to this purpose, but they never deigned to make him the least reply. At last, after reproaching him with the blood spilt during the war, they told him that they were preparing some bills, to which if he would consent, they would then be able to judge of his pacific inclination.

In the mean time Fairfax was approaching with a powerful and victorious army, and was taking the proper measures of laying siege to Oxford, which promised an easy surrender. To be taken

captive,

captive, and led in triumph by his insolent subjects, was what Charles justly abhorred; and every insult and violence was to be dreaded from the soldiery, who had felt the effects of his opposition. In this desperate extremity he embraced a measure which, in any other situation, might justly lie under the imputation of imprudence and indiscretion. He resolved to give himself up to the Scotch army, who had never testified such implacable animosity against him, and to trust to their loyalty for the rest.

That he might the better conceal his design from the people of Oxford, orders were given at every gate of the city for allowing three persons to pass. In the night, the king, accompanied by one doctor Hudson, and Mr. Ashburnham, took the road towards London, travelling as Ashburnham's servant. He, in fact, came so near London, that he once entertained some thoughts of entering that city, and of throwing himself on the mercy of the parliament. At last, after passing through many cross-roads and bye-ways, he ar rived at the Scotch camp before Newark, and discovered himself to Lord Leven, 1646. the Scotch general.

Jan.30.

The Scotch, who had before given him some general assurances of their fidelity and protection, now seemed greatly surprised at his arrival among them. Instead of bestowing a thought on his interests,they instantly entered into a consultation upon their own. The commissioners of their army sent up an account of the king's arrival to the liament, and declared, that his coming was altogether uninvited and unexpected. In the meantime they prevailed upon the king to give directions for surrendering all his garrisons to the parliament, with which he complied. In return for this condescension they treated him with very long

1 2

par

sermons

among the ecclesiastics,and with the most cautious reserve, but very different from respect, among the officers. The preachers of the party indeed insulted him from the pulpit; and one of them, after reproaching him to his face with his misconduct, ordered that psalm to be sung, which begins,

"Why dost thou, Tyrant, boast thyself Thy wicked deeds to praise?"

The king stood up, and called for that plsam, which begins with these words:

"Have mercy, Lord, on me, I pray,

For men would me devour."

The audience accordingly sung this psalm in compassion to majesty in distress.

The parliament being informed of the king's captivity, immediately entered into a treaty with the Scotch about delivering up their prisoner. The Scotch had, from their first entrance into England, been allowed pay by the parliament, in order to prevent their plundering the country; much of this, however, remained unpaid, from the unavoidable necessities of the times,and much more was claimed by the Scotch than was really` due. Nevertheless, they now saw this a convenient time for insisting on their arrears; and they resolved to make the king the instrument by which this money was to be obtained. After various debates upon this head between them and the parliament, in which they pretended to great honour, and insisted upon many punctilios, they agreed, that upon payment of four hundred thousand pounds they would deliver up the king to his enemies, and this was chearfully complied with. An action so atrocious may be palliated, but can never be defended; they returned home laden with plunder, an the reproaches of all good men.

From

From this period to the despotic government of Cromwell, the constitution was convulsed with all the agitations of faction, guilt, ignorance, and enthusiasm. The kingly power being laid low, the parliament attempted to assume the reins; but they were soon to submit in turn to the military power, which, like all democracies, was turbulent, transient, feeble and bloody.

CHAP.