torily. Rushworth, in his Collections,' has given a plan of the battle, drawn up, he says, from the papers of the parliamentary generals, which were intrusted to him for the purpose by the Parliament, together with those of Lord Ashley, who prepared the plan for the disposition of the King's troops, and whose papers fell into their hands when he was taken in a skirmish soon afterwards. Having carefully examined this plan, with such other documents, contemporary and otherwise, as I could obtain, before visiting Naseby, I fancied I should be able to understand with some certainty the order of the battle, but I had not anticipated recalling the event so vividly. There clearly was the hill along whose brow was stretched the king's army; here was the strong line of the parliamentary forces; down this declivity the forlorn hope marched to meet the fiery cavaliers; yonder, on our left, dashed forward the gallant band of Rupert to make one of his furious mad charges. But let us, as we are here looking over the ground, see whether we cannot obtain an idea of the battle, by aid of those who wrote when it was fresh in memory. Naseby fight has been often described, but here its repetition may be forgiven.

The battle occurred in the middle of June, 1645.. Charles was at Harborough when he heard that Fairfax had drawn off from Oxford, and he resolved to advance towards him. The king and all about him were in high spirits, fully believing that the parliament army was in a disorganized state, that the new model which had just been adopted was unsuccessful, and that he had but to appear, and victory would at once of necessity declare for him. Charles advanced to Daventry, where he waited

several days for more correct intelligence of the movements of the enemy. Intelligence came, but of another kind than he expected. Fairfax he learned was close at hand; he had reached Northampton with an army more considerable than had been reported to him, and in good condition. This being the case, he resolved to fall back upon Harborough, and from thence proceed as rapidly as he might to Leicester. Meanwhile Fairfax had not been idle; anticipating an engagement,* * he had written to the Parliament, requesting that Cromwell might be spared from his attendance at the House of Commons, in order to take the command of the horse, an engagement being likely to happen speedily. On Friday (June 13) a council of war is summoned to determine what it is best to do. While the debate is going forward a loud noise is heard in the camp. Cromwell is come! and "the horse give a mighty shout for joy of his coming to them."† He has brought, too, seven hundred of his own Ironsides with him-good men all-but himself a host. There is little hesitancy now. Onward is the word. An alarm soon reaches Har, borough that the Roundheads are at hand-that they are quartered within six miles. No chance of reaching Leicester now: that is plain enough, whatever else is doubtful. "A council was presently called, and the former resolution of retiring presently laid aside, and a new one as quickly taken

So Rushworth, but Whitelock says that the letters were "from the chief officers of horse under Fairfax;" whoever it was wrote them, it is certain that the troops of horse were very anxious for his presence.

A more exact and perfect Relation of the great Victory (by God's Providence) obtained,' &c. Lond. 1645.

'to fight,' to which there was always an immoderate appetite, when the enemy was within any distance. They would not stay to expect his coming, but would go back to meet him. And so, in the morning early, being Saturday the fourteenth of June, all the army was drawn up, upon a rising ground of very great advantage, about a mile south from Harborough (which was left at their back), and there put in order to give or receive the charge." (Clarendon.) But they did not stay there. Fairfax had set out from his quarters by daybreak, and, after a march of an hour or two, sees some of the king's troops on the high grounds before him.* Charles had been led to move his troops from their former and, as it should seem, preferable position, owing to his misconceiving the purport of some movements on the part of his adversary, and now had scarcely time to arrange his army before the enemy made signs of attacking him.

The position which the king's army had now taken is on the north-eastern side of Naseby field; the parliament's army occupies the hill about half a mile on the south. The deep hollow is between them. The order of battle is soon formed. On the king's side, Prince Rupert has the command of the right wing, Sir Marmaduke Langdale of the left, while the main body is commanded by Lord Ashley; the king being with the reserves, and having Lord Lindsay, Sir George Lisle, and others

* There is some hopeless confusion here between the various accounts of the victorious party on the one hand and Clarendon on the other-neither hours nor movements can be made to agree, and it seems as though here, as elsewhere, Clarendon had not taken much trouble about the exact veracity of his narrative.

with him. On the opposite side, Cromwell commands the right, and Ireton the left wing; the centre is under the charge of the General (Fairfax) himself and Major Skippon; Rainsborough, Hammond, and Pride commanding the reserves. Each

party forms a line stretching across the field; the order of each is similar-the infantry being in the centre, with the cavalry as wings. Yonder hill, where the king's troops are, is Broad Moor; they have a warren on their left. This, whereon the parliament's army is ranged, is Mill Hill, that Fenny Hill on the left, a troop of Ireton's dragoons is behind the hedge that divides Naseby and Sulby Honours. Both armies are well placed; it is clear, though, that Cromwell has therein the advantage. He has secured such a position as to screen a con siderable part of his men by means of the broken ground from the observation of the enemy, while he commands a full view of them, and can detect at once all their movements. In numbers there is little difference between them. In courage they are equal, but not in confidence. That " mighty shout" of the horse yesterday, when "Fairfax's invincible lieutenant "* came, was it not a presage to victory? Fairfax himself, too, his looks were pale as death yesterday, but now he is all alacrity, his soldiers see in his cheerful countenance the promise of victory." On the other side, the cavalry is full of assurance, but the infantry is hardly so hopeful. Those marchings and counter-marchings, and constant changing of plans, do not speak well for their commanders' decision and clear-sightedness. A mighty difference; it is the hour of life or death, and they cannot confide in their leaders' firmness

* Milton.

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and foresight, on which both depend! But they are brave men and will do bravely. The royalists place bean-stalks in their hats; the others have no directions on the subject; a few of their own accord put up some white paper or linen, the rest carry no mark.

Thus, then, these twenty thousand men stand face to face on that fair summer morning waiting for the word in order to fall upon each other. The broad moor glows with the broom in full flower-its golden glory mingling with the lowlier blossoms of the heath. The wind blows sharply from the north-west, and there is a little preparatory manoeuvring to obtain the advantage of it. A few shots are fired from the scanty artillery on either side. And see, a forlorn hope of three hundred musketeers advances towards the royal army; its orders are to advance steadily, to wait in the vale till it is charged, and then fall back as steadily as it advanced. The battle is begun. Rupert with his right approaches the left of his opponents. He charges swiftly, terribly, crying "Queen Mary!" while the answering shout is "God is our strength!" Brave is the meeting, Ireton is not made to yield, bravely is that fierce charge encountered, but it is irresistible. Ireton is borne down, his horse is killed, himself thrust through the thigh with a halberd, and wounded in the face; his eyes become dim, he is carried off a prisoner, and his troops fly swiftly, while Rupert's as swiftly pursue them. How fares it on the other wing? Has the Invincible given way? Not he. Langdale charged him, but he yielded not a step. His Ironsides charge in turn-" like a torrent driving all before them." Down they rush into that narrow valley conquerors