A true and impartiall relation of the battaile betwixt, His Majesties Army, and that of the rebells neare Newbery in Berk-shire, Sept. 20, 1643. With the severall actions of the Kings Army since His Maiesties removing it from before Gloucester. Sent in a letter from the Army to a noble lord.

A true and impartiall relation of the battaile betwixt, His Majesties Army, and that of the rebells neare Newbery in Berk-shire, Sept. 20, 1643. With the severall actions of the Kings Army since His Maiesties removing it from before Gloucester. Sent in a letter from the Army to a noble lord.

Table of contents

Title page

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My Lord,

I Have omitted all the last Weeke to give your Lordship an accompt of the condition of His Majesties affaires here; every day ( [...] these three last) having produced little in [...], but much in expectation. But now that the long lookt for Crisis of a Battail is over, I have thought it fit to informe your [...], not onely of the [...] and [...] of that but also of the steps and [...] to it being doubly obliged so to doe, in [...] to His [...] sevice, as well as in what I owe to your [...] which I find in as much danger of suffering by some of our own parties, [...] the conduct of His Majesties designes with rashnesse and imprudence, as in the Rebels [...] the truth of the [...] of [...]. [...] by then usuall arts of [...], by which they have [...] appeared able to make better [...] of defeates, then we of Victorie.

Your Lordship may be pleased [...] understand that the Earl of [...] having descended with his Army into the Vale of Gloucester, before the King could well draw His from the Siege up to the hills to fight with him, it was not thought fit to follow him into the inclosed Country, where the King should loose the [...] advantage hee had above him in strength of horse, but rather to make choise of such a place to in camp his Army as might be aptest for these three ends: to accommodate his Quarters; to strengthen him in provisions; and equally to intercept his flight in a faire Country; whether hee should take it by the way of Worcester towards Warwick or by the way of Cyrencester towards Reading, and to these purposes, the Towne of Winchcombe and Sudely Castle were made choyse of as the most appropriate. But after two daies lodging there, (the Queenes Regiment having in their comming to that quarter defeated one of the Earles best Regiments of Horse of Dutchmen, commanded by one Blaire) upon intelligence that the Earle was advanced as far as Teuxbury and Vpton bridge, (whereby it was made probable unto us, that he intended [...] [Page] way) the king [...] his Army of [...], from whence having [...] up a [...] of theirs) we were quickly hurried by the newes that Essex had faced about, and had in the night, with great silence secrecy, and strange diligence, almost gained Cirencester, and surprized two new raised Regiments of ours there, before we could get any certain notice of his [...]: having left (as it seemes) most of his great Ordnance and baggage behind him, and amusing us with a shew of Forces still in Teuxbury and Vpton, which were (as I conceive) those now remaining in Garrison at Glocester. Upon certainty of his remove on the Thursday, our whole Army on the Saturday morning marcht after him, our Horse with such diligence, that on the Sunday night they quartered within sixe miles of him, he at Suningdon, we about Farringdon. Upon the [...] morning Colonell [...], with a party of a Thousand commanded men, was sent to follow them in the Reare from their quarters, whilest Prince [...] with the body of the Cavalry drew over the directest way to meete him, and it was our good lucke to [...] his Army just: [...] our party had overtaken it upon the open Downe, two miles on the Northwest side of Aubourne, the Rebells discrying us drew up in [...], leaving onely a body of some two [...] Horse upon a hill somewhat distant from the grosse of their Army, which we found meanes so to steale upon with Vrries party, as to charge and rout them, and taking two Coronets, and killing Forty or Fifty men, without any losse on our part; we beat them into their Foot and Cannon, upon which occasion we discovered such evident symptomes of feare and distraction in their whole Army, as that the Prince was wel [...] tempted from his temper, and was once resolved to have charged (with 3000. horse alone) their whole Army consisting of [...]. horse and 5000. foot at least, and store of Cannon. But newes arriving at the [...] that our Foot was, beyond expectation, advanced within 6. or 7. miles of us, it imposed upon his Highnesse prudence this caution, not to adventure upon halfe our strength that rest, which the next day he might be sure to fight for with double power: upon which consideration he made a stand, resolving that night onely to attend them and hinder their march. We had not stood long when we discovered that the enemy prepared for a retreat, and by degrees drew away their baggage first, then their soot leaving their horse at a good distance from them.

The Prince his [...] hereupon was to have charged them: when [Page] [...] their Forces should have bin drawne off the Field into those Lanes, whereinto their baggage was already advanced, but their motions being so very slow, and the night drawing on, upon second thoughts his [...] judg'd it the best course to try, if (by a small party he could ingage their horse, which was then growne to bee at a good distance from their Foot: this partee he committed to the care of Vrrey, with two Regiments onely neere at hand to second him, keeping the body of his horse at such a distance, as might incourage the Enemy to venture on that sever'd part, which they did with a litle too much incouragement. For (to say the truth) the Regiments that should have seconded Vrrey, not doing their parts so well as they ought, forced his partee to make somewhat a disorderly retreat, and the Prince to send hasty succours to them, which the Queenes Regiment (commanded by my Lord Iermyn) was ordered to doe, which his Lordship performed with much Gallantry, being received very steadily, by a strong body of the Enemies Horse, and with a Composednesse in the Officer that commanded them very remarkably. For his Lordship advancing before his Regiment, with the Marquesse de la Vieuville on the one hand, and the Lord Digby on the other (the Enemies Volley of Carabines given them smartly at lesse than 10 yards) being past, the Commander somewhat forwarder than the rest, was plainely seene to prye into their countenances, and removing his leavell from one to another to discharge his Pistoll as it were by Election at the Lord Digbyes head, but without any more hurt, (saving onely the burning of his face) than hee himselfe received by my Lord Iermyn's sword, who (upon the Lord Digbyes Pistoll missing fire) ran him with it in to the back, but he was as much beholding to his Armes there, as the L. Digby to his headpeece. Immediately upon this shocke, the Queens Regiment was so charged in the Reare by a fresh body of theirs, that the greatest part of it, shifting for themselves, the Lord Iermyn, accompanied with the French Marquesse, and the Officers onely of his Regiment, thought it as safe a way as well as the most honourable, to venture forwards through their whole Army, rather than to charge back through those that had invironed him, and so with admirable successe (the unhappy losse of that gallant Marquesse excepted) he brought 4 Colours and all his Officers off safe, having made their way round, through the grosse of the enemies Foot. The L. Digby being stonn'd, [...] for the present blinded with his shot, was fortunately rescued out of a [Page] Regiment of the Enemies by a brave Charge, which Prince Rupert in person made upon them with his owne Troop, wherein his Highnesse horse was shot in the head under him, but yet by Gods blessing brought him off; and so the Enemies horse being beaten up quite to their Foot, and Cannon, the night comming upon us, gave a period to that action. That night we quarterd in the field some 2. miles distant from the Enemy, who by the next morning was stolen away as far as Hungerford; whereupon, the Prince conjecturrng rightly the course they would [...], drew his horse the directest way towards Newbury, assigning the Foot also their Randevouz there that night, where, luckily they met in the Evening, at the same instant that the Earle of Essex his Army appeared within a mile of the Towne, with little thought (as I conceive) of finding his intended quarter so prepossest: upon sight of our Army they retreated into certaine hedges & Fastnesses, a mile and halfe distant from Newbury westward. The Rebels thus happily overtaken in their flight, consultation was held of the way to prevent their farther evading us, and it was resolved on for the best, to draw all the Kings Army that night into a large field on the other side of Newbury, adjoyning to those closes where the Enemy had made this haul, [...] the end we that might be in readines to presse upon the first motion of theirs. The night was past in much [...], but with opinion on our part, that they were marcht away. The next morning being Wednesday the 20. of Sept. by breake of day, (in stead of the flight which upon all their former proceedings, we had reason to expect) we discovered them setled in the most advantagious way imaginable of receiving us, whether invited to it by the extraordinary advantages of the place, or ingaged to it by the despaire of escaping us by a Retreat, I know not, but there we found them, their Foot, their Horse, and their Cannon planted with much skill, not onely for mole sting us, and preserving themselves, but even for temptation to us to assayle them upon those disadvantages. For having lodged their Baggage and Principall Reserve both of Horse and Foot, upon a Hill side under a Wood neer Hampsted, fenced by hedges & dithes inaccessable, but by such and such passes, and having [...] another principal part of their strength betwixt that and a place called Enbourne, in strong hedges, and houses, with apt [...] on both sides, for bravadoes sake, or to invite us, they had drawne out into Battalia into a litle Heath on the South-side of [...] three bodies of Foot, both lined and flanked with strong [...] of Horse, [Page] [...] favour of [...], so as that upon all occasions they might [...] power out thither from their Holds what new strength they pleased, or, if beaten, might have a safe Retreat, into the adjoyning [...], which nature and they had both so well secured, they being so [...] placed for fight, and so [...] for sub [...]tence , we having Newbury at our backs to susteine us, and so many more [...] then they to cut off provision. It may wel accur to [...] Lordship to question why (since it doth to so many more to [...] that) wee did not endeavour to combat them: so by their necessityes as to oblige them for want of sustenance to retreat over some [...] equall [...], rather than to assayle them upon such dangerous oddes of Scituation. The answer to this objection by way of excuse, that we were in some sort to lead on, and ingaged by the tempting prospect of that little Battalia I mentioned upon the [...]; and by way of justification I am to tell [...], that there was within the Enemies Dominion a round hill not suspected nor [...] by us the night before, from whence a battery would command all he plain before Newbury, where the Kings Army stood, [...] that unlesse we [...] our selves of that hill, there was no holding of that [...], but the King must have retreated with his Army thence, the dishonor of which, I beleeve you will easily consent ought to outweigh the hazard of attempting them, and (to say the truth') even without their having that [...], the Kings person was exposed all day to much more hazard of the Cannon than was fitting, the Re [...]e [...]e's im [...]loying it very freely where ever by any signes they could discover his [...]. This hill and that heath I mention'd, were the 2 eminent sceanes [...] that dayes action, from 7 a c'ock in the [...] till 7 at night, except onely one attempt made by them from their grand Reserve upon a passe on our right hand neare the River [...] by the Kings Life-guards, in which they were repulsed. The issue of the Battell on the heath (first begun and quickly ended) was a [...] routing of their horse, the possessing of 5 pieces of Cannnon there, though able to bring off but one of them, the forcing the Foot to retreat into their strength, though unbroken, for (giue their due) they shewed themselves like good men, and lastly the gaining and holding the place.

This action was done [...] by our horse, for (to say truth) our foot having found a hillocke in the Heath that sheltered them from the [...], would not [...] a foot from [...]. The [Page] General and Prince Ruherts personal presence and conduct, [...] much to the good successe, as also the Lieut. general Willmots. Chiefe Officers of horse, that bore a principall part in the action it selfe, were my Lord of Carnarvon, Colonell Gerard, Sir Charles [...], the Earle of Northampton, the Lord Chandois and Daniel [...]. To name them all that did eminently there, were to give you a Catalogue of all our gentlemen of quality there present: for there is scarcely any that did not behave himself remarkably. Persons of note killed there, were the Earle of Carnarvan, the Earl of Su [...]derla [...]d, Col. Morgan, [...]. Col. Fielding, and some [...] Volunteers, whose names I cannot collect, [...] the [...], Sir George [...] eldest Son, a [...] and an ingenious young man; Persons of note [...]; of prime Officers, the Lord [...], Sir Charles [...], Col [...]nell Charles Gerard, and [...] Ivers. Of lower Officers abundauce, but none that I heare eit [...]er of them or these dangerously. Of Volunteers, the [...] of [...], and Mr. Iohn Russel, Mr. Edward Sackvild, Mr. Henry [...], George Porter, with many more.

The action of the hill was carried with as much bravery both by our Horse and Foot as on the Heath by the Horse alone, the Foot Commanded by Sir Nicolas Byron, the Horse by Sir [...] [...], who after sixe houres (the [...] dispute that hath beene seene) gained it from my Lord of Essex his owne guards that had possest it, enjoyed it [...] many [...], and in the end (the Enemy [...] up his rest to regaine it, after as hot a fight as at their taking it) repulsed him, and kept it still.

Officers of note hurt there, were Colonell [...], George [...], and Ned Villiers, and the Lord Viscount Flakland (volunteering it with too much bravery) unfortunately killed I may have omitted many persons as eminent in their actions that day, as some of these I have named, [...] it being so end lesse a task to nominate all, I have only [...] such as I conceive to be of your Lordships acquaintance.

Your Lordship doth not expect that I should tell you of noble men killed on the other side, nor much of [...], but of such things as they cal Officers, their Prisoners assure us concurringly that the most and principall of them are slaine, The night comming upon us soon after the Enimies finall repulse from that hil, the King drew all his Army up to the top of the heath, keeping [Page] possession both of that, and of the hill till towards night, at which time, [...] Horse and Foot, being extremely tyred, and [...] probably informed that the [...] had retreated with their carriges, and a principall part of their Army, it was thought sit to draw his Horse into [...] on the other side of the River, and His foot into the Towne, principally ro refresh them, and to inable them for the next [...] pursuit, but in part (for I will [...] nothing from your Lordship) to make a Bridge to a flying Enimy, least in deed too great a despaire of [...] might have made them [...] a second fight in that disadvantagions place, where having not (to tell you the truth) Powder enough left for halfe such another day, having spent four score [...] in it, threescore more then had served the turneat Edge hill, nor could we be assured that the supply from Oxford of 100. Barrelles more could come to us till the next day at noone.

Thus my Lord have I given your Lordship as true an accompt as I can, of Gods blessing upon the justice of His Majesties [...] that day, which (considering the disadvantage we fought upon) may well be counted in it [...] a happy successe, but in the affects it hath since had in our pursuit of my Lord of Essex, our defeating in that pursuit, his two best remaining [...] of Horse, our dissipating in so great a measure his Army, and [...] ding the Rebels back with so much terror, to their nest (London) may well bee reputed a great victory; and yet I am confident that our having gained [...] Field, Colours, Cannon, store of Prisoners, from them, beaten them from all places, that we under took, [...] them from all that they attempted, our having execution on them in their flight, and all this with the losse of halfe their numbers, all the [...] ensignes of a battaile gained; will not have kindled lighter [...] with us in joy and thanksgiving, then with the remaining Rebells in hopes yet farther to abuse the people, by passing still upon them deliverancies for Victories.

From Newbery this 22. of Sept, 1643.

Your Lordships most humble Servant.

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A TRVE AND IMPARTIALL Relation of the BATTAILE BETWIXT, HIS MAIESTIES ARMY, and that of the REBELLS neare Newbery in Berk-shire, Sept. 20, 1643.

WITH The severall Actions of the KINGS Army since His MAIEsties removing it from before Gloucester.

Sent in a Letter from the Army to a Noble Lord.

Printed at Oxford by L. Lichfield. 1643.

Information about this book

Title statement

A true and impartiall relation of the battaile betwixt, His Majesties Army, and that of the rebells neare Newbery in Berk-shire, Sept. 20, 1643. With the severall actions of the Kings Army since His Maiesties removing it from before Gloucester. Sent in a letter from the Army to a noble lord.

Bristol, George Digby, Earl of, 1612-1677.

Edition statement

1643

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2009-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A67867

ID [STC]

Wing B4778

ID [STC]

ESTC R5147

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99872803

ID [PROQUEST]

99872803

ID [VID]

125249

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Early English books online.

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A67867)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 125249)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 12:E69[10])

Source

— A true and impartiall relation of the battaile betwixt, His Majesties Army, and that of the rebells neare Newbery in Berk-shire, Sept. 20, 1643. With the severall actions of the Kings Army since His Maiesties removing it from before Gloucester. Sent in a letter from the Army to a noble lord., Bristol, George Digby, Earl of, 1612-1677..

Extent

[8] p.

by L. Lichfield,. Printed at Oxford [i.e. London?] :: 1643.. (Anonymous. By George Digby, Earl of Bristol.) ("This appears to be a London counterfeit edition" (Madan).) (Signatures: A⁴.) (Annotation on Thomason copy: "Sept: 29".) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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