Mercurius Rusticus, or, The countries complaint of the barbarous outrages committed by the sectaries of this late flourishing kingdom together with a brief chronology of the battels, sieges, conflicts, and other most remarkable passages, from the beginning of this unnatural war, to the 25th of March, 1646.

Anno Dom. 1642.

MAY the 20th. it was voted by both Houses, That the King intended to levie War against the Parliament: which they did on purpose to excuse themselves for raising a Rebellion against His Ma∣jesty, as appeared within few days after.

July the second the Kings ship called the Pro∣vidence, Landed in the Creek of Kenningham near Hull, till which time His Majesty had not a Bar∣rel of Powder, nor any Arms, or Ammunition whatsoever.

July the 12th. the pretended two Houses Voted, that the Earl of Essex should be General of their Army, and that they would live and die with him.

August the first, the Earl of Essex caused all the men then raised (being in number about 10000) to be committed to Officers, and divided into Re∣giments, which men had been raising ever since the 12th. of July 1642. at which time he was made General of the Rebels.

August the sixth the Earl of Bedford having fruit∣lessely besieged the Lord Marquess of Hertford in Sherburn Castle for four days before, retreated to Yevell; the Noble Marquess sallied after him, and with a small number fell on that great body of the Rebels, Kill'd above 140 whereof 9 Commanders, took divers Prisoners and routed the rest; so as he marched away, and after divided his small Forces, going himself into Wales, and Sir Ralph (now Lord) Hopton into Cornwall, of both which there followed so good an effect.

August the 22d. His Majesty set up his Standard

Royal at Nottingham, for raising of Forces to sup∣press the Rebels then marching against him.

September the 23d. Prince RUPERT with a∣bout 11 Troops of Horse gave a great overthrow to the Rebels in Wikefield near Worcester, where Colonel Sands that commanded in chief, received his mortal wound, Major Douglas (a Scot) and di∣vers other Captains and Officers slain and drown∣ed, Captain Wingate a Member of the House of Commons, with four Coronets taken, and two more torn in pieces. This body of the Rebels was observed to be the flower of their Cavalry.

October the 23d. was that signal great battel fought between Keynton and Edg-hill by his Majesties Ar∣my, and that of the Rebels led by the Earl of Essex: wherein the Rebels lost above 70 Colours of Coronets and Ensigns, and His Majesty but only 16 Ensigns and not one Coronet. The exact number that were slain on both sides in this Battel is not known: But it is certain that the Rebels lost above three for one. Men of eminence of his Majesties Forces, who were slain in the Battel were, the two Noble and valiant Lords, Robert Earl of Lindsey Lord High Chamberlain of Eng∣land, and George Lord D. Aubigney Brother to the Duke of Richmond, and Lenox, Sir Edmund Verney, Knight Marshal to His Majesty, with some other worthy Centlemen, and Soldiers, but besides these three named there was not one Noble Man or Knight kill'd, which was an extraordinary mercy of Almighty God, considering what a glorious sight of Princes, Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts, Barons, Knights and Gentlemen of all Orders, were not only present but engaged themselves a∣gainst the Rebels as much or more than Common

Soldiers, which they most cheerfully did by example of His sacred MAJESTY, whose Royal un∣daunted Courage put life into every man, exposing His Sacred Person to so much danger as all good men do tremble to remember; His Royal Sons (the two young Princes) CHARLES Prince, of Wales, and JAMES Duke of Yorke, being also in the field in very much danger, if God whose cause it was) had not covered their heads in the day of Bat∣tel. The Rebels as they had few men of quality to lose, so those they had, were sensible of their guilt, which then they expressed by their flight, some sculking into holes and Saw-pits, and others running out before they were well in the field. They lost of note the Lord St. John, eldest Son to the Earl of Bullingbrooke, Sir Charles Essex, with many inferi∣our Officers.

October the 27th. His Majesty to compleat his Victory in Keynton field, drew his whole Army be∣fore Banbury; but after the firing of one piece of Ordnance, the Rebels submitted to His Maje∣sties mercy (which were in number about 800 Foot (of the Earl of Peterboroughs, and Lord Says Regi∣ments) with 10 Colours, and a Troop of Horse) and yeilded the Town and Castle to the King: at which time the Earl of Essex with his shattered Force, were crept over the River Aven into War∣wick (full eight Miles backward from the place where they were beaten) there to secure those few he had left under the protection of the strong fituate Town and Castle, leaving behind him a∣bove 20 Waggons loaded with Powder and other Ammunition.

November the 12th. His Maiesty after four hours fight forced the Town of Brainford, where Lieute∣nant

Colonel Quarles that commanded in chief was slain, and at least 400 more of the Rebels kill'd and drowned, as many taken Prisoners, with little loss to His Majesties part, these thus taken and kill'd, were observed to be the best foot Soldiers the Rebels had.

November the 13th. (being Sunday) certain of the Rebels had come down the Thames from King∣ston, with 13 pieces of Ordnance, which (so soon as they could see) they fired against Sion house, and His Majesties Train of Artillery; but did little or no harm. Whereupon Order was presently given for drawing down some Pieces into the Meadow and to the River side against them; which was according∣ly done: and likewise a Demy-Cannon planted near the South-end of the Town. All which were so judiciously plied, that they shot through their Boats and Barges, and at last fired the Powder in one of them, which blew up divers of the Rebels: Those Rebels which escaped took them to their heels, leaving behind them their mangled Boats and Barges, with all their Ordnance, and the remain∣der of their Ammunition, on which His Majesty presently seised, and afterwards made an honoura∣ble and safe retreat to the City of Oxford.

December the 5th. His Majesties Forces under the command of Lieutenant General Wilmot, having his own Regiment of Horse, with the Lord Grandisons, and Lord Digbies, and Sir William Pennimans, and Colonel Blagues Regiments of Foot, and Colonel Ushers, and Colonel Grayes of Dragoons, took the Town of Marlborough, defended by Robert Ramsey (a Scot) and about 500 Foot; Ramsey and divers of the chief Rebels brought Prisoners to Oxford; all their Arms taken, and four Colours.

On the same 5th. day, the Earl of Newcastle laid siege to Tadcaster, where at that time was all the strength of the Rebels in Yorkeshire (excepting Hull) and by several assaults on the Town (from Ten of the Clock in the morning, till Seven at night) kill'd Cap. Lyster, and about 60 more of the Rebels, who found such hot service that they stole away in the night to Cawood and Selby, leaving Tadcaster fortified for His Majesties service.

January the 19th. a great Victory was obtained by the Lord Hopton, near Bodmin, in the County of Cornwal, where was slain in the pursuit 200 of the Rebels, and 700 taken Prisoners (amongst whom was Sir Shilston Colmadee) and eight Colours; good store of Ammunition, an five excellent brass Guns, and one of Iron.

January the 22d. the Lord Hopton assulted Saltash, forced the Town, where he took Ten pieces of Ordnance, 700 more Prisoners, 4000 Arms, and a Ship with sixteen pieces of Ordnance.

January the 27th. certain of the Rebels under the command of Master John Hampden, to the number of 1800 Foot, and seven or eight: Troops of Horse, with two pieces of Ordnance, came be∣fore Brill, and made an assault upon it: But were so bravely repulsed by His Majesties forces there, under the command of Sir Gilbert Gerard (the then Governour thereof) that they made all possible hast away; His Majesties Horse having the pursuit of them, for above 4 miles, about 80 of them being sound dead, and betwixt 40 or 50 men wound∣ed, which they had left together in a private House.

February the 1st. Lieutenant General King, and Lieutenant Ge••eral Goring coming from Newcastle with a great Convoy, of much Arms and Ammu∣nition:

and being faced at Yarum, with 400 Foot, three Troops of Horse, and two pieces of Ordnance of the Rebels, fell upon them, slew many, took the rest of the Foot, and most of the Horse Prison∣ers, with their Ordnance and Baggage.

February the 2d. Cyrencester, (or Cicester) in Glou∣cester-shire was taken by his Highness Prince Rupert, with the loss of less than 20 men of his Army, there being above 300 of the Rebels slain, and near 1200 taken Prisoners. Of Colours taken, one Coronet, two of Dragoons, and fourteen Foot Ensigns, together with all their Ordnance, Arms, and Ammunition.

February the 13th. the QUEENS Majesty left the Hague, and went to Sciveling. And on the 16 day Her Majesty imbarked again in the Princess Royal of Great Brittain. And on the Sunday after came within sight of Flamborough-head.

February the 20th She cast Anchor in the Harbour of Burlington-bay. And the 22d. day following (up∣on fight of 1000 of his excellency the Earl of New∣castle's Horse) landed at Burlington Key.

Fibruary the 24th. in the morning four Ships and a Pinnace, in the Rebels service, (which came over night into the Road) made above 100 great shot at the houses in the Key, for two hours, shooting Cross-bar-shot, and Bullets of twelve pound weight, all of them aiming so near as they could, at the house were the Queen lay. Insomuch that her sacred Majesty was forced to make what hast she could out of Her Bed, and to get under an hill to save Her life from the fury of those Bloody Rebels, who endeavoured to Murther Her. But God Al∣mighty preserved Her Majesty both by Sea and Land.

March the 18th. and 19th. was a great Battel on Hopton-heath in Staffordshire, wherein Gell and Brereton (two cowardly Rebels) were routed by His Majesties Forces under the command of the Right Honour∣able Spencer then Earl of Northampton, in which fight, above 300 of the Rebels were taken and kill'd; at the least 200 more wounded; abve 300 of their Horse taken, four pieces of Cannon, and a case of Drakes, with some Ammunition, here was the most Noble and valiant Earl of Northampton unfor∣tunately slain, with C. Middleton and some few o∣thers on His Majesties side.

March the 23d. Grantham was taken in, by some of His Majesties Forces under the Command of Colonel Charles Cavendish: wherein were taken 360 Prisoners, with all the Captains and Officers, three foot Ensigns, two Cornets, together with three loads of Arms and Ammunition. And afterwards the works demolished.