"we shall all be happy in a glorious victory. Your King is both your cause, your quarrel, and your captain. The foe is in sight. You shew yourselves no "malignant party," but with your swords declare what courage and fidelity is within you. I have written and declared, that I intended always to maintain and defend the Protestant religion, the rights and privileges of Parliament, and the liberty of the subject, and now I must prove my words by the convincing argument of the sword. Let Heaven shew his power by this day's victory, to declare me just; and, as a lawful, so a loving King to my subjects. The best encouragement I can give you is this; that come life or death, your King will bear you company, and ever keep this field, this place, and this day's service in his grateful remembrance.”1

There is no sound that ever rent the air so terrible

1 Forster's Statesmen, vol. ii. p. 352. I subjoin an extract from a printed address said to have been circulated among the troopers it does not sound, however, like the composition of King Charles: "Friends and soldiers! You are called Cavaliers and Royalists in a disgraceful sense. If I suffer in my fame, needs must you do likewise. Now shew yourselves no Malignants, but declare what courage and fidelity is within you. Fight for the peace of the kingdom and the Protestant religion. The valour of Cavaliers hath honoured that name both in France and other countries, and now let it be known in England, as well as horseman or trooper. The name of Cavalier, which our enemies have striven to make odious, signifies no more than a gentleman serving his King on horseback. Shew yourselves, therefore, now courageous Cavaliers, and beat back all opprobrious aspersions cast upon you."-Colonel Weston's Letter, published by Richard Johnson, 1642. The reader will observe a great difference in the style of this extract and that of the speech transcribed above. The latter is characteristic, high-spirited, eloquent, and

as the deep silence of suspense before the battleword is given; it is the moment when the soul sinks under the awe of something that thrills deeper than any fear. During that dread pause many a fervent prayer was offered up by the true hearts that abounded in both armies, but none was more simple and sincere than Sir Jacob Astley's, uttered manfully aloud: "Oh, Lord! thou knowest how busy I must be this day; if I forget thee, do not thou forget me!" then rising, he exclaimed, "March on boys!"

The Parliamentary army began the fight by three shots from their guns upon the right; the King's artillery instantly replied. Then the whole line advanced as the Cavaliers approached, a horse

firm, yet breathing sadness rather than hope, and resignation rather than a conqueror's pride: it was better adapted for the closet than the field: it lacks something of the trumpet.

1 Sir Philip Warwick records this prayer: it comes so home to every heart, that it is known wherever our language is spoken. Yet it is related in such involved grammar, that it has been assigned to Lord Lindsey, even by Lord Nugent and Mr. Forster. Sir Philip's relation is thus worded: "And Sir Jacob Ashly (who in everything deserves Ruthven's character) was majorgeneral of the army, under the Earl of Lindsey, who, before the charge at the battle of Edgehill, made a most excellent, pious, short, and soldierly prayer," &c.; "and with that rose up and said, ' March on, boys!'" The whole sentence evidently relates to Sir Jacob (to whom tradition has assigned it), and Lord Lindsey's name is merely introduced in explanation of Sir Jacob's office. I am tempted to quote here another characteristic soldier's prayer, that of poor La Hire, before rushing into action. La Hire was the most devout and devoted follower of the heroic Maid of Orleans, and was only elevated from the lowest station by his gallantry and enthusiasm: his prayer runs thus: "Mon Dieu, je voudrois que tu fasses pour moi ce que je voudrois faire pour toi si tu etiez La Hire et La Hire etoit toi."

2

man darted from the enemy's column and rode up to Prince Rupert, flinging from him the orange badge he bore. It was a lieutenant in Sir Faithful Fortescue's troop, to announce the defection of his commander with all his men, and that the signal would be the firing a pistol in the ground. The Prince, already on the move, observed the signal and forebore to assail the deserters, but Killigrew and Byron slew several of them before they discovered their purpose.' Rupert now led on the Royal horse, commanding them to use their swords alone, and "charge!" Before the word was fairly uttered, that brilliant cavalry was on the spur; away in one wild sweep of magnificent confusion the proud chivalry of England dashed; in generous rivalry each seeking to strike the first home-stroke "for God and for the King!" What could abide that thundering charge, all spur, no rein, every heart within that flashing armour was on fire, every voice a shout of triumph, every plume bent forward to the charger's mane! The Roundheads seemed swept away by the very wind of that wild charge. No sword was crossed, no saddle emptied, no trooper waited to abide the shock; they fled with frantic fear but fell fast under the sabres of their pursuers. The cavalry galloped furiously until they reached

1 Prince Rupert's Diary; Benett MS.

2 Bulstrode, 81. It was the absurd fashion of the time for cavalry to ride up within musket or pistol shot of their enemy, to halt and fire until some impression was produced on either rank, and then to charge among the disordered rout.

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such shelter as the town could give them; nor did their infantry fare better. No sooner were the Royal horse upon them than they broke and fled; Mandeville and Cholmondeley vainly strove to rally their terror-stricken followers; they were swept away by the fiery Cavaliers.1 But," adds the canting and profligate Lord Wharton, who, it was said, hid himself in a saw-pit on the occasion," it pleased God to begin then to shew himself, for their cavalry took bait upon our baggage and so lost their advantage only three hundred of ours were slain!!" The more shame for them if it had been true.

On, away for London, spreading their terror round them, still they fled; their colonel, Ramsay, first in flight and loudest in despairing news. But the one troop, commanded by Sir Faithful Fortescue, had stood; they fired their carbines in the ground and joined the Prince, but a score of them were slain before their object was discovered.

The Cavaliers, meanwhile, seemed as if carried away by the torrent of the fugitives; they had encountered no opposition, and they thought the battle won; its prizes were before them: Roundhead waggons, laden with spoil, and magazines full of the arms so sought for and desired, choked up the narrow streets and were soon plundered by the

1 Lord Wharton's speech, or rather confession, to the "Mayor, Council and Commons of the City," in the King's Collection Brit. Mus.

2 Clarendon says that the battle was not fought until three o'clock, yet these fugitives reached St. Albans before dark.

troopers,' whilst others pursued the flying enemy as madly as they fled, until Hampden's brigade, coming up from Stratford, checked and turned backward the pursuit.

Meanwhile, the Royal left wing was equally broken and routed by success. Sir Arthur Aston's stout dragoons had cleared the way for Wilmot, who found scarcely an enemy to oppose him, so rapidly had Rupert's impetuous charge broken the spirits of the Roundhead horse. As the right wing of the Cavaliers had run riot, so also the left lost all control over itself, and spread over the field in pursuit of Meldrum's flying troopers. Nor did the contagion stop here, Sir John Byron and Lord Digby, who commanded the reserve, led forward their eager horse to share in the pursuit, and the King's infantry was left exposed and unprotected. Then the Parliamentary reserves of cavalry, under Balfour, charged in upon the Royal artillery,* and vainly tried to spike the guns while they cut down the gunners. Then wheeling round, they charged the Royal foot in rear, as the latter were advancing upon Stapleton's rallied horse, and forcing them back at push of pike. Finding their rear attacked, however, the Guards gave way and fled. The Roundhead horse rode through and through them with

1 The common soldiers. See the "Iter Carolinum."

2 Sir P. Warwick, 230.

3 Clarendon's Rebellion,iii. 279.

4 The "Iter Carolinum" accuses the

treachery.

"chief gunner

of