แ

that those regiments I put most trust in, namely, my own, the Lord Roberts', and Colonel Butler's, had quitted their posts on Gallant side, and so that way was opened for the enemy to cut off all provisions from you that should come from Menabilley Bay and Polkerris; and that you were unable, according to my desire, to draw up thither, for fear your men should quit their colors, if moved. Sir, if you live, I shall take as great care of you as of my father, if alive; if God otherwise dispose of you, as long as I have a drop of blood, I shall strive to revenge yours on the causers of it. The horse are come safe; nothing but fear of slavery and to be triumphed on, should have made us have gone. Sir, I am yours till death,

Plymouth, 2nd Sept., 1644.

ESSEX.

P. S.-Upon notice that you subsist, and how long you can, no hazard shall be let slip.

General Skippon had not waited to hear from the Earl at Plymouth. As soon as he received his message on the morning of the 1st, he called a Council of War, and addressed them as follows:

"Gentlemen,-You see our General and some "chief officers have thought fit to leave us, and our "horse are got away; we are left alone upon our "defence. That which I propound to you is this: "that we, having the same courage that our horse

had, and the same God to assist us, may make the "same trial of our fortunes, and endeavour to make "our way through our enemies as they have done; "and account it better to die with honour and faithfulness, than to live dishonourable.” 1

1 Rushworth, vi. 704.

But few of the Council agreed in opinion with the gallant old General, and a treaty of capitulation was resolved on; and not only resolved, but, on the very same day, terms were signed by the Generals of both armies. By them the rebels agreed to give up all their artillery and arms1, excepting the swords and pistols of officers; on which they were to be convoyed by the royal troops in safety to Poole, agreeing not to bear arms again before they arrived at Southampton.

One is struck by the remarkably easy terms granted in capitulations, as much as by a certain want of vigour and energy in pressing their adversaries, which is observable on both sides. It would seem they never forgot, up to this time at least, that they were brethren fighting against brethren. In the relation just ended, another question arises; what was the Earl of Warwick2 doing at Plymouth with the fleet, when, within thirty miles of him, was the army of his party in a state of distress, which the presence of a few men-of-war off Fowey would have relieved at once?

Essex did not write an account of his disasters to the Committee of both Kingdoms; his indignation against that board was only shown in his letter to

'Thirty-eight guns, including the four captured, and about 6000 stand of arms, fell to the royal army by this capitulation.

2 Whitelocke, p. 102., says that Warwick made "a gallant attempt to relieve Fowey, but extremity of weather would not suffer him to land one man;" but surely if Lord Essex could leave Fowey in an open boat, the same means might have embarked a portion at least of the army, had the fleet been off Fowey.

Sir Philip Stapleton, which was read in Parliament. In it he says: "How our poor army was neglected " and oppressed, is well known to you, and shall be "to the world; for never were so many gallant "and faithful men so long exposed without succor." And again he says, "this business shall not sleep, if "it be in my power."

Colonels Weare and Butler were accused of having caused the late disaster by their misconduct; the regiment of the former having quitted its post on the 30th, and Butler, who had been a prisoner in the royal camp, and was only exchanged two days before, was accused of having tampered with the army on his return, by spreading certain reports. Both were committed to the Tower.

An inquiry into the reasons why Waller or a competent force was not sent into the West on the King's going there, instead of lying idle about Abingdon, being by no means agreeable to his party, it was stifled by sending to Essex the following letter from the Parliament.

No. LXXXV.1

The Speakers to Essex.

My Lord,- The Committee of both Kingdoms having acquainted the Houses of Parliament with your Lordship's letters from Plymouth, they have commanded us to let you know that, as they apprehend the misfortunes of that accident, and submit to God's pleasure therein, so their good affections to your Lordship, and their opinion of your fidelity

1 Lords' Journal, vi. 699.

and merit in the public service, is not at all lessened; and they are resolved not to be wanting in their best endeavors for the repairing of this loss, and drawing together such a strength under your command, as may, with the blessing of God, return our affairs to a better condition than they are now in; to which purpose they have written to the Earl of Manchester to march with all possible speed towards Dorchester in Dorsetshire with all the forces he can of horse and foot. Sir Will. Waller is likewise ordered to march speedily unto Dorchester with all his horse and foot.

The Houses have appointed 6000 foot arms, 500 pair of pistols, and 6000 suits of clothes, shirts, &c., to meet your Lordship at Portsmouth, for the arming and encouragement of your forces; and they are confident your Lordship's presence in those parts, for bringing the forces together in a body, and disposing of them, will very much conduce to the public advantage. Your Lordship's most affectionate friends,

Westminster, 7th Sept. 1644.

GREY OF WARKE.
WM. LENTHAL.

*

CHAPTER XVIII.

LIFE OF ROBERT, THIRD EARL OF ESSEX-concluded.

MOVEMENTS OF THE ROYAL ARMY.-PROCEEDINGS OF LORD ESSEX. -HIS ILLNESS. SECOND BATTLE OF NEWBURY.-CONSULTATION AT ESSEX HOUSE CONCERNING CROMWELL. SELF-DENYING ORDI

NANCE.
GENERAL.

IN a few days after the capitulation of General Skippon, the royal army commenced its march, and arrived on the 10th September before Plymouth; a summons was sent to Lord Roberts, who remained in command of the garrison, which being rejected by him, several unsuccessful attempts were made to take the town by assault; on this Charles raised the siege, and continued his march to Exeter, at which place he arrived on the 17th. Goring, who had been detached against Barnstaple and Ilfracombe, took those places on capitulation, the garrisons marching out with the honours of war, and having a convoy to Portsmouth; the ordnance, amounting to seventy pieces, being left to the Royalists.

The King having summoned the Oxford Parliament to assemble on the 9th November, slowly pursued his march in that direction; Waller, who had joined