A short view of the life and reign of King Charles (the second monarch of Great Britain) from his birth to his burial.

1643.

The next Summer makes him master of the North and West, some few places onely being excepted. The Earl of New-castle with his Northern Army had clea∣red

all parts beyond Trent (but the Town of Hull) of the enemies Forces. And with his own Army under the command of Prince Rupert, and Prince Maurice (two of the younger Sons of his Sister Elizabeth Queen of Bohemia) he reduced the Cities of Bristol, and Exeter, the Port Town of Waymouth, and all the Towns of any importance in the Western parts, except Pool, Lime and Plimouth. So that he was in a manner the absolute Com∣mander of the Counties of Wilts, Dor∣set, Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall. And though the Towns of Plimouth, Lime, and Pool still held out against him, yet were they so bridled by his neighbou∣ring Garrisons, that they were not able to create him any great Distur∣bance.

The noise of these successes was so loud at London, that most of the leading men in both Houses of Parliament pre∣pared for quitting of the Kingdome, and had undoubtedly so done, if the King had followed his good fortunes,

and advanced towards London. But un∣happily diverting upon Glocester, he lay so long there, without doing any thing to the purpose, that the Earl of Essex came time enough to raise the Siege and relieve the Town, though he made not hast enough to recover London with∣out blowes. For besides some skir∣mishes on the by, which fell out to his losse, the King with the whole body of his Army overtook him at Newberry, where after a sharp fight (with the losse of the Earl of Carnarvon, the Earl of Sunderland, and the Lord Viscount Falk∣land on his Majesties side) he had the worst of the day, and had much ado to save his Canon, and march off orderly from the place; followed so hotly the next morning▪ that his own Horse, which were in the Reere, were fain to make their way over a great part of his Foot, to preserve themselves.

Being returned to Oxford with Suc∣cesse and Honour, he Summons the Lords and Commons of Parliament to

attend there on the twenty second day of January then next following; and they came accordingly. And for their bet∣ter welcome▪ he advances Prince Ru∣pert to the Titles of Earl of Holdernes and Duke of Cumberland, and creates James his second Son (born the Thir∣teenth day of October, Anno 1633) Duke of York, by which name he had been appointed to be called at the time of his Birth, that they might sit and vote amongst them. But being come, they neither would take upon themselves the name of a Parliament, nor acted much in order to his Majesties designs; but stood so much upon their terms, and made so many unhandsome motions to him upon all occasions, that he had more reason to call them a Morgrel Par∣liament in one of his Letters to the Queen, then they were willing to allow of.