Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his…

§ 60. All this time, the King having marched from Nottingham to Shrewsbury, had there very successfully made up his Army, especially out of Shropshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Wales, though many came also out of other Parts: And the Earl of Essex's Army was filled up, and was marching down towards Worcester.

§ 60. All this time, the King having marched from Nottingham to Shrewsbury, had there very succesfully made up his Army, especially out of Shropshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Wales, though many came also out of other Parts: And the Earl of Essex's Army was filled up, and was marching down towards Worcester.

The Fury of the Rabble was so hot at home, that I was fain to withdraw again, and being with one Mr. Hunt near I•kborough, there came a Party of the Earl of Essex's Army before the rest, to block up the Lord Bryon in Worcester, till the Earl of Essex came to take him there. This Party lay in a Meadow near Powick, above a Mile from Worcester, Mr. Hunt, with other Countrymen bringing them in Provision; I had a great mind to go see them, having never seen any part of an Army; As soon as I came, a Messenger came out of Worcester secretly, to tell them that the Lord Bryon was mounted and ready to be gone: Hereupon, the Commanders (Col. Brown a Scot, Col. Edwin Sans of Kent, and Col. Nath. Fines, Capt. Joh. Fines, and Capt. Wingate) consulted what was to be done; Brown and Sands were hot for the leaving of their Ground (where they were secure by a River) and presently to pursue the Enemy: The rest said, This Message may be a Deceit, to draw us into a Snare; let us first send Scouts, and see how it is. But the other prevailed, and over the Bridge they went; (being all horse and Dragoons) and by that time they had past a narrow Lane, and half of them entered a Field beyond it, they found the King's Horse under the Command of Prince Rupert drawn up ready to charge them (when they knew not whom they fought with, nor knew that Prince Rupert was within twenty Miles of them) so he charged them before the rest came in, and Col. Sands was wounded and taken Prisoner, and died of his Wounds; and Major Douglas slain, and the rest •led; and though the Enemy pursued them no farther than the Bridge, yet fled they in grievous terror to Parthore, and the Earl of Essex's Life Guard lying there, took the Alarm that the Enemy was following them, and away they went. This Sight quickly told me the Vanity of Armies, and how little Confidence is to be placed in them.