to execution with such resolved courage, that many, even of his bitterest enemies, wept on the occasion. He suffered on the 21st of May, 1650.

Argyle, the mortal foe of Montrose, exulted in private over the death of his enemy, but abstained from appearing in parliament when he was condemned, and from witnessing his execution. He is even said to have shed tears when he heard the scene rehearsed.

THE BATTLE OF DUNBAR.

OLIVER CROMWELL.

(FROM LETTER TO THE SPEAKER.)

DUNBAR, Sept. 4, 1650.

Upon Saturday, the 30th of August, we marched from Musselburgh to Haddington, where, by the time we had got the van brigade of our horse and our foot and train into their quarters, the enemy had marched with that exceeding expedition that they fell upon the rear-forlorn of our horse, and put it in some disorder; and, indeed, had like to have engaged our rear brigade of horse with their whole army had not the Lord, by his providence, put a cloud over the moon, thereby giving us opportunity to draw off those horse to the rest of our army; which accordingly was done without any loss save of three or four of our afore-mentioned forlorn, wherein, as we believe, they received more loss. The army being put into a reasonable secure posture, towards midnight the enemy attempted our quarters on the west side of Haddington, but, through the goodness of God, we repulsed them. The next morning we drew into an open field on the south side of Haddington, we not judging it safe for us to draw to the enemy upon his own ground, he being prepossessed thereof, but rather drew back to give him way to come to us if he had so thought fit. And, having waited about the space of four or five hours to see if he would come to us, and not finding any inclination in the enemy to do so, we resolved to go, according to our first intendment, to Dunbar.

By that time we had marched three or four miles, we saw some bodies of the enemy's horse draw out of their quarters; and, by that time our carriages were gotten near Dunbar, their whole army was upon their march after us; and, indeed, our drawing back in this manner, with the addition of three new regiments added to them, did much heighten their confidence if not presumption and arrogancy. The enemy that night, we perceived, gathered towards the hills labouring to make a perfect interposition between us and Berwick. And, having in this posture a great advantage through his better knowledge of the country, he effected it by sending a considerable party to the strait pass at Copperspath, where ten men to hinder are better than forty to make their way. And truly this was an exigent to us wherewith the enemy reproached us with that condition the parliament's army was in when it made its hard conditions with the king in Cornwall. By some reports that have come to us, they had disposed of us and of their business in sufficient revenge and wrath towards our persons, and had swallowed up the poor interest of England; believing that their army and their king would have marched to London without any interruption, it being told us-we know not how truly-by a prisoner we took the night before the fight, that their king was very suddenly to come amongst them with those English they allowed to be about him. But in what they were thus lifted up, the Lord was above them.

The enemy lying in the posture above mentioned, having those advantages, we lay very near him, being sensible of our disadvantages, having some weakness of

flesh, but yet consolation and support from the Lord himself to our poor weak faith, wherein I believe not a few amongst us stand; that because of their numbers, because of their advantages, because of their confidence, because of our weakness, because of our strait, we were in the Mount, and in the Mount the Lord would be seen, and that he would find out a way of deliverance and salvation for us, and indeed we had our consolations and our hopes. Upon Monday evening the enemy's whole numbers were very great; about 6000 horse as we heard, and 16,000 foot at least; ours, drawn down as to sound men, to about 7500 foot and 3500 horse. The enemy drew down to the right wing, about two-thirds of their left wing of horse to the right wing; shogging also their foot and train much to the right, causing their right wing of horse to edge down towards the sea. We could not well imagine but that the enemy intended to attempt upon us, or to place themselves in a more exact condition of interposition. The major-general and myself, coming to the earl of Roxburgh's house and observing this posture, I told him I thought it did give us an opportunity and advantage to attempt upon the enemy. To which he immediately replied, that he had thought to have said the same thing to me, so that it pleased the Lord to set this apprehension upon both of our hearts at the same instant. We called for colonel Monk, and showed him the thing; and coming to our quarters at night, and demonstrating our apprehensions to some of the colonels, they also cheerfully concurred. We resolved, therefore, to put our business into this posture: that six regiments of horse and three regiments and-a-half of foot should march in the van; and that the major-general, the lieutenant-general of our horse, and the commissary-general (and colonel Monk to command the brigade of foot), should lead on the business; and that colonel Pride's brigade, colonel Overton's brigade, and the remaining two regiments of horse should bring up the cannon and rear, the time of falling-on to be by break of day; but, through some delays, it proved not be so till six o'clock in the morning.

The enemy's word was "The Covenant," which it had been for divers days; ours the "LORD OF HOSTS." The major-general, lieutenant-general Fleetwood, and commissary-general Whalley, and colonel Twistleton gave the onset, the enemy being in a very good posture to receive them, having the advantage of their cannon and foot against our horse. Before our foot could come up, the enemy made a gallant resistance, and there was a very hot dispute at sword's point between our horse and theirs. Our first foot, after they had discharged their duty, being overpowered with the enemy, received some repulse, which they soon recovered. For my own regiment, under the command of lieutenant-colonel Goffe and my major (White), did come seasonably in, and, at the push of pike, did repel the stoutest regiment the enemy had there, merely with the courage the Lord was pleased to give, which proved a great amazement to the residue of their foot, this being the first action between the foot. The horse in the meantime did, with a great deal of courage and spirit, beat back all oppositions, charging through the bodies of the enemy's horse and of their foot, who were, after the first repulse given, made by the Lord of Hosts as stubble to their swords. Indeed-I believe I may speak it without partiality-both your chief commanders and others in their several places, and soldiers also, were acted+ with as much courage as ever hath been seen in any action since this war. I know they look not to be named, and therefore I forbear all particulars.

The best of the enemy's horse being broken through and through in less than an hour's dispute, their whole army being put into confusion, it became a total rout, our men having the chase and execution of them near eight miles. We believe that upon the place and near about it, were about 3000 slain. Prisoners taken, of their + Actuated.

* Lambert.

officers you have this enclosed list, of private soldiers near 10,000. The whole baggage and train taken, wherein was good store of match, powder, and bullet, all

their artillery, great and small, thirty guns. We are confident that they have left behind them not less than 15,000 arms. I have already brought in to me near 200 colours, which I herewith send you. What officers of theirs of quality are killed we cannot learn, but yet surely divers are, and many men of quality are mortally wounded, as colonel Lumsden, the lord Libberton, and others. And, that which is no small addition, I do not believe we have lost twenty men, not one commissioned officer slain as I hear of, save one cornet, and major Rooksby since dead of his wounds, and not many mortally wounded. Colonel Whalley only cut in the handwrist, and his horse, twice shot, killed under him. But he well recovered another horse and went on the chase.

[The letter concludes with a sort of homily addressed to the speaker and members, very characteristic, but not exactly "history."-EDIT.]

ESCAPE OF CHARLES II. FROM WORCESTER FIELD.

DICTATED BY CHARLES II. TO MR. PEPYS.

NEWARK, Sunday, Oct. 3rd, and Tuesday, Oct. 5th, 1680.

After that the battle was so absolutely lost, as to be beyond hope of recovery, I began to think of the best way of saving myself; and the first thought that came into my head was, that, if I could possibly, I would get to London, as soon, if not sooner, than the news of our defeat could get thither: and it being near dark, I talked with some, especially with my lord Rochester, who was then Wilmot, about their opinions, which would be the best way for me to escape, it being impossible, as I thought, to get back into Scotland. I found them mightily distracted, and their opinions different, of the possibility of getting to Scotland, but not one agreeing with mine, for going to London, saving my lord Wilmot; and the truth is, I did not impart my design of going to London to any but my lord Wilmot. But we had such a number of beaten men with us, of the horse, that I strove, as soon as ever it was dark, to get from them; and though I could not get them to stand by me against the enemy, I could not get rid of them, now I had a mind to it.

So we, that is, my lord duke of Buckingham, Lauderdale, Derby, Wilmot, Tom Blague, Duke Darcey, and several others of my servants, went along northward towards Scotland; and at last we got about sixty that were gentlemen and officers, and slipped away out of the high road that goes to Lancastershire, and kept on the right hand, letting all the beaten men go along the great road, and ourselves not knowing very well which way to go, for it was then too late for us to get to London, on horseback, riding directly for it, nor could we do it, because there was yet many people of quality with us that I could not get rid of.

So we rode through a town short of Woolverhampton, betwixt that and Worcester, and went through, there lying a troop of the enemies there that night. We rode very quietly through the town, they having nobody to watch, nor they suspecting us no more than we did them, which I learned afterwards from a country fellow.

We went that night about twenty miles, to a place called White Ladys, hard by Tong Castle, by the advice of Mr. Giffard, where we stopped, and got some little refreshment of bread and cheese, such as we could get, it being just beginning to

be day. This White Ladys was a private house that Mr. Giffard, who was a Staffordshire man, had told me belonged to honest people that lived thereabouts.*

And just as we came thither, there came in a country fellow, that told us, there were three thousand of our horse just hard by Tong Castle, upon the heath, all in disorder, under David Leslie, and some other of the general officers; upon which there were some of the people of quality that were with me, who were very earnest that I should go to him and endeavour to go into Scotland; which I thought was absolutely impossible, knowing very well that the country would all rise upon us, and that men who had deserted me when they were in good order, would never stand to me when they have been beaten.

This made me take the resolution of putting myself into a disguise, and endeavouring to get a-foot to London, in a country fellow's habit, with a pair of ordinary grey cloth breeches, a leathern doublet, and a green jerkin, which I took in the house of White Ladys. I also cut my hair very short, and flung my clothes into a privy-house, that nobody might see that anybody had been stripping themselves. I acquainting none with my resolution of going to London but my lord Wilmot, they all desiring me not to acquaint them with what I intended to do, because they knew not what they might be forced to confess; on which consideration, they, with one voice, begged of me not to tell them what I intended to do.

So all the persons of quality and officers who were with me (except my lord Wilmot, with whom a place was agreed upon for our meeting at London, if we escaped, and who endeavoured to go on horseback, in regard, as I think, of his being

* S. Pepys, desiring to know from father Hodlestone what he knew touching the brotherhood of the Penderells, as to the names and qualities of each of the brothers, he answered, that he was not very perfect in it, but that, as far as he could recollect, they were thus, viz. :— 1st. William, the eldest, who lived at Boscobel.

2nd. John, who lived at White Ladies, a kind of woodward there, all the brothers living in the wood, having little farms there, and labouring for their living, in cutting down of wood, and watching the wood from being stolen; having the benefit of some cow-grass to live on. Father Hodlestone farther told me, that here lived one Mr. Walker, an old gentleman, a priest, whither the poor catholics in that neighbourhood resorted for devotion, and whom father Hodlestone used now and then to visit, and say prayers, and do holy offices with. Upon which score it was, that John Penderell happened to know him in the high-way, when the said John Penderell was looking out for a hiding-place for my lord Wilmot. This John was he, as father Hodlestone says, that took the most pains of all the brothers.

3rd. Richard, commonly called among them Trusty Richard, who lived the same kind of life with the rest.

4th. Humphrey, a miller, who has a son at this day (1680) footman to the queen, to be heard of at Somerset House.

5th. George, another brother, who was in some degree, less or more, as he remembers, employed in this service. He thinks there was a sixth brother, but of that is not certain. H.

There were six brothers of the Penderells, who all of them knew the secret; and (as I have since learned from one of them) the man in whose house I changed my clothes came to one of them about two days after, and asking him where I was, told him that they might get £1,000 if they would tell, because there was that sum laid upon my head. But this Penderell was so honest, that though he at that time knew where I was, he bade him have a care of what he did; for, that I being gone out of all reach, if they should now discover I had ever been there, they would get nothing but hanging for their pains. I would not change my clothes at any of the Penderell's houses, because I meant to make further use of them, and they might be suspected; but rather chose to do it in a house where they were not Papists, I neither knowing them, nor, to this day, what the man was at whose house I did it. But the Penderells have since endeavoured to mitigate the business of their being tempted by their neighbour to discover me; but one of them did certainly declare it to me at that time. K.

Concerning one Yates, that married a sister of one of the Penderells, father Hodlestone says, he has heard, that the old coarse shirt which the king bad on did belong to him; and consequently that the king did shift himself at his house; but believes that the rest of the king's clothes were William Penderell's, he being a tall man, and the breeches the king had on being very long at the knees. H.

too big to go on foot), were resolved to go and join with the three thousand disordered horse, thinking to get away with hem to Scotland. But, as I did before believe, they were not marched six miles, after they got to them, but they were all routed by a single troop of horse; which shews that my opinion was not wrong in not sticking to men who had run away.

As soon as I was disguised I took with me a country fellow, whose name was Richard Penderell, whom Mr. Giffard had undertaken to answer for, to be an honest

man.

He was a Roman Catholic, and I chose to trust them, because I knew they had hiding-holes for priests, that I thought I might make use of in case of need.

I was no sooner gone (being the next morning after the battle, and then broad day) out of the house with this country fellow, but, being in a great wood, I set myself at the edge of the wood, near the highway that was there, the better to see who came after us, and whether they made any search after the runaways, and I immediately saw a troop of horse coming by, which I conceived to be the same troop that beat our three thousand horse; but it did not look like a troop of the army's, but of the militia, for the fellow before it did not look at all like a soldier.

In this wood I staid all day, without meat or drink; and by great good fortune it rained all the time, which hindered them, as I believe, from coming into the wood to search for men that might be fled thither. And one thing is remarkable enough, that those with whom I have since spoken, of them that joined with the horse upon the heath, did say, that it rained little or nothing with them all the day, but only in the wood where I was, this contributing to my safety.

As I was in the wood, I talked with the fellow about getting towards London, and asking him many questions about what gentlemen he knew; I did not find that he knew any man of quality in the way towards London. And the truth is, my mind changed as I lay in the wood, and I resolved of another way of making my escape; which was to get over the Severn into Wales, and so to get either to Swansea or some other of the sea-towns that I knew had commerce with France, to the end I might get over that way, as being a way that I thought none would suspect my taking; besides that, I remembered several honest gentlemen that were of my acquaintance in Wales.

So that night, as soon as it was dark, Richard Penderell and I took our journey on foot towards the Severn, intending to pass over a ferry, half-way between Bridgenorth and Shrewsbury. But as we were going in the night, we came by a mill where I heard some people talking (Memorandum, that I got some bread and cheese the night before at one of the Penderells' houses, I not going in), and as we conceived, it was about twelve or one o'clock at night, and the country fellow desired me not to answer if anybody should ask me any questions, because I had not the accent of the country.

Just as we came to the mill, we could see the miller, as I believed, sitting at the mill door, he being in white clothes, it being a very dark night. He called out, "Who goes there?" Upon which Richard Penderell answered, "Neighbours going home," or some such like words. Whereupon the miller cried out, "If you be neighbours, stand, or I will knock you down." Upon which, we believing there was company in the house, the fellow bade me follow him close; and he ran to a gate that went up a dirty lane, up a hill, and opening the gate, the miller cried out, 66 Rogues, rogues!" And thereupon some men came out of the mill after us, which I believed was soldiers: so we fell a-running, both of us, up the lane, as long as we could run, it being very deep, and very dirty, till at last I bade him leap over a hedge, and lie still to hear if anybody followed us; which we did, and continued lying down upon the ground about half an hour, when, hearing nobody come, we continued our way on to the village upon the Severn; where the fellow told me

**

M