of the sacredest misteries of it, even the celebration of our Lords
supper; so finely could these pretended saints make that _vinculum
pacis_, that band of peace, the commemoration of our Savieours
sufferings and death, that peace so often inculcated, and left as a
legacie by our blessed Lord to his whole Church; so handsomelie, I
say, could these hipocrits make it the simbole of warre, and bloody
broyles. While I lay at Paislay, a communion, as they call it, is to
be given at Machlin church, to pertake wherof all good people are
permitted to come; but because the times were, forsooth, dangerous,
it was thought fit all the men sould come armed. Nixt Monday, which
was their thanksgiveing day, there were few lesse to be seene about
the church than tuo thousand armed men, horse and foot. I had got
some intelligence of the designe before, and had acquainted the
Duke with it; who ordered me expreslie not to stirre till Calander
and Middletones coming; who accordinglie on the Saturday before the
Communion came to Glasgow, where I met them, and then went straight
forward to Paislay. A rendezvous is appointed by Calander to be of
horse and foot at Steuarton till nixt Monday. From thence Lieut.
General Middleton is sent with sixe troopes of horse to Machlin moore,
where the armed communicants were said to be. I intreated my Lord
Calander (bot to no purpose) not to divide, bot rather march with all
his forces, then hazard the overthrow of a few, which might endanger
the whole. We advanced with the rest as the foot could march; but it
was not long before we heard that the communicants had refused to goe
to their houses; and having ressaved a briske charge of Middletons
forlorne hope, had worsted it; and that himselfe and Colonell Urrey
comeing up to the rescue, were both wounded in the heade; which had so
appalld their troopes, that if they lossd no ground, they were glad
to keepe what they had, and looke upon the saincts. These unexpected
news made Calander leave my regiment at Kilmarnock, and take his horse
with him up to Middletone. I intreated him to march at least at a great
trot, if not at a gallope; bot he would be more orderlie, and therefor
marched more sloulie. We met numbers of boys and bedees, weeping and
crying all was lost; bot at our appearance the slashing communicants
left the field, the horse trulie untouchd, because not fiercelie
pursued. About sixtie of their foot were taken, and five officers. The
ministers that came in our power, who had occasiond the mischiefe, were
nixt day dismisd. Nixt day we marchd into Aire, where a court of warre
is appointed to be keepd about the prisoners. The country fellows of
them are pardoned; the officers sentenced to be hanged or shot; bot
therafter were pardond; to which I was very instrumentall, thogh I had
bene president in the court of warre. Lieutenant Generall Middletons
wound, and Colonel Urreys, sufferd them to ride abroad within foure or
five days. We knew not well what to doe, for Lambert was on the Border
with a strong part of the English armie, and in a manner keepd Sir
Marmaduke Langdail blockd up at Carlile. Our west countrey was not at
all setled, bot very readie for new commotions. Upon this E. Calander
desires a conference with the Duke, who then was at Edinburgh, to be at
his oune house of Hamilton, to which the Duke readilie assented.
I had left my wife at Glasgow, and, therfor, desird libertie to goe
there, and bid her good night, and accordinglie went thither. Within
two nights came E. Calander and Lieutenant Generall Middletone, and
with them I went to Hammilton, takeing my leave of my deare wife, whom
I did not see againe till she saw me prisoner at Hull.
At Hammilton, we could not bot with much regret and displeasure
consider that Sir Marmaduke, and his Lieutenant Generall Sir Philip
Mushgrave, both gentlemen of untainted loyaltie and gallantrie, had
not onlie unseasonablie, and contrare to the advices given them, raisd
above 3000 foot and horse, bot had marchd with them into Lancashire,
and therby had given a just pretext to the Parliament to send Lambert
with a more considerable power, to give a stop to their further
proceedings: which he did so vigorouslie, that Langdale was glad to
shelter himselfe under the walls of Carlile. This exposd him to a
certaine and present ruine, unles he were succourd. To marche to his
reliefe, were to leave the halfe of our forces in Scotland unleavied,
and ane enemie behind our hand, ourselvs in very bad condition, without
money, meale, artillerie, or amunition; to suffer him to perish was
against honor, conscience, and the reason both of state and warre.
It wold have given our enemies occasion to insult; wold have brought
the Dukes honor (rudlie enough dealt with [by] some before) to an
everlasting losse, and wold have given such just apprehensions of
jealousies to the royalists in England, that never one of them wold
have joynd with us, or ound us. The further debate of this busienes
is delayd till the Duke, Calander and Middletone went to Edenburgh
to advise with the Committee of Estates, for the Parliament was then
dissolvd. Bot in the meanetime, Colonell Lockheart is sent to command
some brigads of horse at Anan, and I orderd to goe presentlie to
Drumfreis, to take the command of sixe or seven regiments of foot,
which were to be shortlie there. Our neernes to Carlile was thought
might give Lambert some ombrages of both a stronger and a neerer
approach. Neither were we mistaken in our conjecture; for so soone as
we began to rally there, he drew his troops neeer together, and so Sir
Marmaduk got aire, and with it some meale for himselfe, and grasse for
his horses.
In this posture did Lockheart and I stay about a fortnight, tuelve
miles distant one from ane other, till (Sir Marmaduks reliefe being
concluded on at Edenburgh as purely necessare,) my L. Duke, E.
Calander, and Lieutenant Generall Middletone and Baillie, with many bot
weake regiments of horse and foot, randevoused at Anan. There I met
them with my little infantrie, amunition, and a great deale of meale,
which had beene sent to me from Edenburgh and other places. Nixt day
we advanced into England, order being given for all the regiments of
the whole kingdome to haste after us, except such as were orderd to
stay for defence of the countrey against our hidden enemies; and these
were to be commanded by E. Lainrick, as commander in chiefe at home.
Our advance obligd Lambert to retire. Some skirmishes we had with him
for a day or tuo, bot to litle purpose. At length be got to Steinmure,
where he beganne to fortifie himselfe. The Duke is necessitated to
stay ten or twelve days at Kirbie-thure, to ressave those regiments
were marching from Scotland, which did not exceed the halfe of their
numbers they sould have beene, all neulie levied, raw and undisciplind;
and that summer was so excessivelie rainie and wet, that I may say it
was not possible for us to keepe one musket often fixd, all the time
we were in a bodie in England. Adde to this that we had no canon,
nay not one field peece, very litle amunition, and not one officer
to direct it. Deare Sandie being groune old and doated, had given no
fitting orders for these things. Whill the Duke lyes at Kirbie-thure,
Sir Marmaduke beseegeth the castle of Applebie, in which Lambert had
left a guarreson. I am sent with tuo brigads to ly neere him, for feare
Lambert sould face about upon him. Within a few days the castle yeelded.
* * * * *
My Lord Duke marcheth on with this ill equipd and ill orderd armie
of his, in which I being Colonell of a regiment, I officiated also
as Adjutant Generall, or rather indeed doeing the duetie of Major
Generall of the infantrie, since there was none named for it. To
relieve Langdale at Carlile brought us out of the roade, and truelie
we never came in the right way againe; so true is the old saying, once
wrong and ay wrong. At Hornbie, a days march beyond Kendall, it was
advisd whether we sould march be Lancashire, Cheshire and the western
counties, or if we sould goe into Yorkshire, and so put ourselvs in the
straight roade to London, with a resolution to fight all wold oppose
us. Calander was indifferent; Middleton was for Yorkshire, Baillie for
Lancashire. When my opinion was askd, I was for Yorkshire, and for
this reason onlie, that I understood Lancashire was a close countrey,
full of ditches and hedges, which was a great advantage the English
would have over raw and undisciplind musketeers; the Parliaments
armie consisting of experienced and well traind sojors, and excellent
firemen; on the other hand, Yorkshire being a more open countrey, and
full of heaths, where we both might make use of our horse, and come
sooner to push of pike. My Lord Duke was for Lancashire way, and it
seemd he had hopes that some forces would joyne with him in his march
that way. I have indeed heard him say, that he thought Manchester his
oune, if he came neere it. Whatever the matter was, I never saw him
tenacieous in any thing during the time of his command bot in that. We
choosd to goe that way, which led us to our ruine. Our march was much
retarded by most rainie and tempestuous weather, wherof I spoke before,
the elements fighting against us; and by staying for countrey horses to
carry our little amunition. The vanguard is constantlie given to Sir
Marmaduke, upon condition he sould constantlie furnish guides, pioneers
for clearing the ways, and which was more than both these, to have good
and certaine intelligence of all the enemies’ motions. Bot whither it
was by our falt or his neglect, want of intelligence helpd to ruine
us; for Sir Marmaduke was well neere totallie routed before we knew
that it was Cromwell that attacked us: _Quos vult perdere, hos dementat
Jupiter._
Beside Preston in Lancashere, Cromwell falls on Sir Marmadukes
flanke. The English imagine it was one Colonell Ashton, a powerfull
presbiterian, who had got together about 3000 men to oppose us, because
we came out of Scotland without the Generall Assemblies permission.
Marke the quarrell. While Sir Marmaduke disputs the matter, Baillie,
by the Dukes order, marcheth to Ribble Bridge, and passeth it with
all the foot, except tuo brigads. This was tuo miles from Preston. By
my Lord Dukes command, I had sent some amunition and commanded men to
Sir Marmaduks assistance; bot to no purpose; for Cromwell prevaild, so
that our English first retird and then fled. It must be remembered that
the night before this sad rencounter, E. Calander and Middleton were
gone to Wigham, eight miles from thence, with a considerable part of
the cavalrie. Calander was comd backe, and was with the Duke, and so
was I; bot upon the rout of Sir Marmaducks people, Calander got away
to Ribble, where he arrivd safelie by a miracle, as I thinke; for the
enemie was betueene the bridge and us, and had killd or taken most
part of our tuo brigads of foot. The Duke with his guard of horse, Sir
Marmaduke with many officers, among others myselfe, got into Preston
toune, with intention to passe a foorde below it, thogh at that time
not rideable. At the entrie of the toune the enemie pursued us hard.
The Duke facd about, and put tuo troops of them to a retreate; bot
so soone as we turnd from them, they turnd upon us. The Duke facing
the second time, charged them, which succeded well. Being pursued the
third time, my Lord Duke cryd to charge ance more for King Charles.
One trooper refuseing, he beate him with his suord. At that charge we
put the enemie so farre behind us, that he could not overtake us so
soone. Then Sir Marmaduke and I entreated the Duke to hast him to his
armie; and truelie he shew heere as much personall valour as any man
could be capable of. We suimd the river, and so got to the place where
Lieutenant Generall Baillie had advantageouslie lodgd the foot on the
top of a hill, among very fencible inclosures.
After Calander came to the infantrie, he very inadvisedlie sent sixe
hundreth musketeers to defend Ribble bridge; for the way Cromwell had
to it was a descent from a hill that commanded all the champaigne,
which was about ane English quarter of mile in length betueene the
bridge and that hill where our foot were lodged; so that our musketeers
haveing no shelter, were forced to ressave all the musketades of
Cromwells infantrie, which was secure within thlcke hedges; and after
the loss of many men, were forced to runne backe to our foot. Here
Claud Hammilton, the Dukes Lieutenant Colonell, had his arme broke
with a musket bullet. The bridge being lost, the Duke calld all the
Colonells together on horsebacke, to advise what was nixt to be done.
We had no choyce bot one of tuo—either stay and maintaine our ground
till Middletone (who was sent for), came backe with his cavalrie; or
els march away that night, and find him out. Calander wold needs speake
first; wheras by the custome of warre, he sould have told his opinion
last, and it was to march away that night so soone as it was darke.
This was seconded by all the rest except by Lieutenant Generall Ballie
and myselfe. Bot all the arguments we used, as the impossibilitie of a
safe retreat from ane enemie so powerfull of horse, in so very foule
weather, and extremelie deepe way, our sojors exceeding wet, wearie,
and hungrie, the inevitable losse of all our amunition, could not move
my Lord Duke by his authoritie to contradict the shamefull resolution
taken by the major part of his officers. After that the drumles march
is resolvd on, and bot few horse appointed to stay in the reare of the
foot, I inquird what sould become of our unfortunate amunition, since
forward with us we could not get it. It was not thought fitt to blow
it up that night, least thereby the enemie sould know of our retreate
or rather flight. I was of that opinion too, bot for ane other reason;
for we could not have bloune it then, without a visible mischiefe to
ourselves, being so neare it. It was ordaind it sould be done three
hours after our departure, by a traine; bot that being neglected,
Cromwell got it all. Nixt morning we appeard at Wiggam Moore, half
our number lesse than we were; most of the faint and wearie sojors
haveing lagd behind, whom we never saw againe. Leutenant Generall
Middletone had misd us, for he came by ane other way to Ribble bridge.
It was to be wishd he had still stayd with us. He, not finding us
there, followd our tracke, bot hotlie pursued by Cromwells horse,
with whom he skirmishd the whole way, till he came within a mile of
us. He lost some men, and severall were hurt; among others Colonell
Urrey got a dangerous shot on the left side of his heade, wherof, tho’
he was afterward taken prisoner, he recovered. In this retreate of
Middletons, which he managed well, Cromwell losd one of the gallantest
officers he had, Colonell Thornton, who was runne in the breaste with
a lance, wherof he dyed. After Lieutenant Generall Middletons comeing,
we beganne to think of fighting in that moore; bot that was found
impossible, in regard it was nothing large, and invirond with enclosurs
which commanded it; and these we could not maintaine long, for want of
that amunition we had left behind us; and therfore we marchd forward
with intention to gaine Warinton, ten miles from the moore we were in;
and there we conceavd we might face about, haveing the command of a
toune, a river, and a bridge. Yet, I conceave there was bot few of us
thought we might be beaten, before we were masters of any of them. It
was towards evening, and in the latter end of August, when our horse
beganne to march. Some regiments of them were left with the reare of
the foot; Middleton stayd with them; my Lord Duke and Calander were
before. As I marchd with the last brigad of foot through the toune of
Wiggam, I was alarmd that our horse behind me were beaten, and runne
severall ways, and that the enemie was in my reare. I facd about
with that brigad, and in the market place serrd the pikes together,
shoulder to shoulder, to keepe up any sould charge, and sent orders
to the rest of the brigads before to continue their march, and follow
Lieutenant Generall Baillie, who was before them. It was then night,
bot the moone shone bright. A regiment of horse of our oune appeared
first, riding very disorderlie. I got them to stop, till I commanded
my pikes to open, and give way for them to ride or runne away, since
they wold not stay. Bot my pikemen being demented, (as I thinke we were
all,) wold not heare me, and tuo of them runne full tilt at me. One of
their pikes, which was intended for my bellie, I gripd with my left
hand; the other run me neere two inches in the innerside of my right
thigh; all of them crying, that all of us were Cromwells men. This was
an unseasonable wound, for it made me after that night unservicable.
This made me forget all rules of modestie, prudence, and discretion.
I rode to our horse, and desird them to charge through these foot.
They, fearing the hazard of the pikes, stood. I then made a cry come
from behind them, that the enemie was upon them. This incouragd them
to charge my foot so fiercelie, that the pikemen threw doune their
pikes and got into houses. All the horse gallopd away; and, as I was
told afterwards, rode not thorough bot over our whole foot, treading
them doune; and in this confusion Colonell Lockheart was trode doune
from his horse, with great danger of his life. Thogh the enemie was
neere, yet I beate drums to gather my men together. Shortlie after
came Middletone, with some horse. I told him what a disaster I had met
with, and what a greater I expected. He told me, he wold ride before
and make the horse halt. I marchd, however all that night, till it was
faire day; and then Baillie, who had rested a litle, intreated me to
goe into some house and repose on a chaire; for I had sleepd none in
tuo nights, and eate as litle. I alighted, bot the constant alarums
of the enemies approch made me resolve to ride forward to Warinton,
which was bot a mile; and indeed I may say I sleepd all that way,
notwithstanding my wound. I thought to have found either the Duke or
Calander, or both heere, bot I did not; and indeed I was often told
that Calander carried away the Duke with him, much against his mind.
Heere did the Leutenant Generall of the foot meet with ane order,
wherby he is required to make as good conditions for himselfe and those
under him as he could; for the horse wold not come backe to him, being
resolvd to preserve themselvs for a better time. Baillie was surprisd
with this, and lookeing upon that action which he was orderd to doe as
full of dishonor, he losd much of that patience of which naturallie
he was master, and beseechd any that wold to shoot him thorough the
head. At length, haveing somthing composd himselfe, and much solicited
by the officers who were by him, he wrote to Cromwell. I then told
him, that so long as ther was a resolution to fight, I wold not goe a
foot from him; bot now that they were to deliver themselvs prisoners,
I wold preserve my libertie as long as I could, and so tooke my leave
of him, carrying my wounded thigh away with me. I met immediatlie with
Middletone, who sadlie condold the irrecoverable losses of the tuo last
days. Within tuo hours after, Baillie and all the officers and sojors
that were left of the foot, were Cromwells prisoners. I got my wound
dressd that morning by my oune surgeon, and tooke from him these things
I thought necessare for me, not knowing when I might see him againe; as
indeed I never saw him after.
That unhappie day we met with Cromwell at Preston, some regiments
of horse, and our Irish auxiliaries under the command of Sir George
Monro, (who were fifteene hundreth good foot and three hundreth horse,
and were appointed, against all reason of warre, to be constantlie a
days marche behind us) all of them, I say, finding the enemie had got
betweene us and them, marchd straight backe to Scotland, and joynd
with E. Lainricks forces. Bot so soone as the news of our defeate came
to Scotland, Argile and the Kirks partie rose in armes everie mothers
sonne—and this was calld the Whiggamer rode. Da. Leslie was on their
heade, and old Leven in the Castle of Edinburgh, cannonading the royall
troopes when they came in view of him. Yet might they have been all
very soone conjurd to be quiet, if the royalists had not suffered
themselves to be cheated by a treatie, by which they were obligd to lay
down armes, and quite their power in civill and militarie affaires. But
the principall men of them, particularlie the Earles of Lauderdaile and
Lainrick, Sir George Monro, Dalyell and Drummond, and others, found it
not saife to trust the Saincts too much, and, therfor, crosd the seas,
to take sanctuarie in Holland. Cromwell at Warinton sends Lambert with
a sufficient cavalrie after us, and follows Monro with the strength of
his armie to the Border, and there is invited by the Presbyterians to
enter Scotland. He gets Berwick and Carlile baselie yeelded to him; and
in one of them a number of English gentlemen who had servd the King;
ane infamous act! He is feasted by old Leven, (peeres of ane tree) in
the Castle of Edenburgh; which within tuo yeares after he made his
oune. These men, who courted him, were so faithfull to the Covenant,
that if fame wrong not some of them, they agreed with him in my Lady
Homes house in the Canongate, that there was a necessitie to take away
the King’s life. Now, for the good intertainment the Presbiterians
had given this Arch Independent, at his returne to England, he left
Lambert, (who had dispatched us before) with foure regiments of horse,
to defend them against the Malignants (for so were honnest men called),
till forces of their oune were raised, which was soone done. And then
Acts of State and Kirke are made, to incapacitate all who had beene
in England with the Duke, all who had abetted that engagdment, or
had consented to it, from any office, charge or employment in State.
Church, or Militia; and numbers of honnest Ministers upon that same
account, turned out of their benefices and livelihoods.
To turn to the Duke in England. At night, after I left Warinton, when
I came to him, all the resolution I found taken was, to march forward
a day or tuo, and then by a turne to endeavour to get into Scotland;
for there was then no visible partie for the King in England to joyne
with; Cromwell haveing, before he came to us, routed and broken all
these who rose in Wales, and hangd many of the principal gentlemen of
them. And Fairfaxe had broke all these who rose for the King in other
counties, first under the Earle of Holland, and them under the Earle of
Norwich, chaceing him and the remainder of them into Colchester, which,
after a siege, was surrendered to him on discretion, as I thinke. Heere
Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lile were cruellie dealt with, having
bot tuo houres given them to prepare for death; and after that short
time, by the instigation of wicked Ireton, Cromwells sonne in law,
mercileslie shot dead.