precision of aim and sureness of discharge as to be the decisive weapon in warfare. The foot soldiers wore defensive armour; the musketeers had their cartridges slung round their belts, and carried rests for their matchlocks, which they stuck in the ground. The bayonet was unknown; one half of the infantry bore pikes; when charged at close quarters the musketeers took shelter behind the rows of pikemen who formed ten deep. The dragoons were mounted infantry, wearing steel caps and buff coats, with short guns and swords. The cavalry sabre decided many a fight. In fact, cavalry, not infantry, was then the basis of military action.1 Fairfax, Cromwell, Rupert, and David Leslie were all cavalry officers.

At the outset there was not enough of weapons to arm all the combatants. The country gentleman took down the old swords and spears in his hall and distributed them to his servants and tenants; some had to make shift with scythes at the end of poles; even the long bow came into use.

The country gentlemen who took the field for the king began the struggle with some advantages. They brought out their keepers, grooms, and hangers-on. Most of them were already good riders and tolerable marksmen, inured to hunting and field sports, and practised in fencing and single stick. Thus squadrons were promptly formed, obedient to command, which presented a brave show. On the other hand, the re

1 At the siege of Drogheda, Cromwell refers to the difficulty of acting with infantry alone against the enemy's horse and foot. Even after the parliamentary infantry had passed through the breach, and gained possession of a church, little way was made till the enemy's cavalry was dispersed by a battery of artillery, and Cromwell's horse with much difficulty brought into the town.

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cruits of the parliament were mostly yeomen, farmers, and townsmen, neither so well mounted, so firm in their saddles, nor so forward at the new trade of war. On the same side, however, were not a few of the more thoughtful of the gentry and some of the high nobility, who naturally appeared at the front, though as the war went on the more capable and daring soldiers rose to command. The parliamentary infantry, the musketeers and pikemen, from the beginning were able to match the royal troops. Throughout their whole armies there was an enthusiasm much deeper than the fantastic loyalty of the Cavaliers. Their staid and sober demeanour contrasted with the swaggering and licentious ways of the soldiers of Rupert and Goring. Men learn warfare quickly under fire; every month made the Roundheads better soldiers, and strengthened the cohesion of the new regiments.

In many places there was a struggle between the holders of the royal commissions and the ordinances of the parliament. The Cavaliers broke into the houses of the Roundheads and took away their horses and arms, even their money and plate. The parliament men retaliated. It fared ill with the weakest in the locality. Both parties accused one another of pillaging and bloodguiltiness. Discipline was slack. The royalists more easily enlisted the drunkards and persons of licentious lives who affected a noisy roystering tone. Prince Rupert at once began hostilities after the fashion of the Thirty Years' War, and suffered his men to live at free quarters both on foes and friends. His camps were followed by numbers of abandoned women who gained an evil character for

stealing, and stripping the slain. Out of the court the standard of honour and morals was high in England. Many took sides with deep misgivings and regret to have to meet neighbours, friends, and relatives, whose hands they had so often clasped in kindness.

CHAPTER XII

The Battle of Edgehill. The King's Attempt to surprise London. The King retires to Oxford. Waller's Plot. Successes of the Cavaliers in the West. Sir Henry Vane sent as Ambassador to Scotland. Concludes a Treaty with the Scots. The Assembly of Divines in Westminster. The Confession of Faith. The Siege of Gloucester. City relieved by Essex. Death of Pym. The Scottish Army enters England.

THE king's forces had marched from Nottingham to Shrewsbury, where he drew many accessions from Wales and other parts. During the march there were some skirmishes and fights of outposts, and a few places taken. He challenged the town of Coventry to let his troops enter; but the townsmen, having had experience of the robberies and cruelties of the Cavaliers in divers parts of the kingdom, refused to accede to his majesty's desires. Inspirited by a successful action in which Holles' regiment overcame Digby's brigade, they made good their defence, and the king had to leave Coventry behind him. The Earl of Essex, whose force was now ready for action, parleying to get the king to return to London to his faithful parliament, allowed him time to form his raw levies. The two armies had been marching for ten days within twenty miles of each other. The royal army now approached the border of Warwickshire, the central county of England. It was was determined to besiege Banbury

where the parliament had a garrison. The king was not aware that the Earl of Essex with his army was no more than eight miles off. The people of the country about were well affected for the parliament, being much under the influence of Lord Saye and Lord Brook, two of the most noted leaders of the Puritans. They would not bring provisions to the royal army, who could not even get a smith to shoe their horses. Prince Rupert, riding to reconnoitre, saw about midnight the fires of the parliamentary pickets. He ascertained that the Roundheads had their quarters at Keinton, when it was determined to occupy the ridge of Edgehill. This is a pretty steep acclivity rising from the plain, and running along in an even line for several miles. About the middle of the ridge there is a castle, now ruined, from the topmost tower of which a view of the rich country around may be obtained. The hill is not too steep for horses to ascend; but the ascent is long enough to make it fatiguing. On gaining the ridge one finds he has mounted to another plain, the hill not sinking on the other side. The front of the hill is now planted with trees. At the time of the battle it was covered by bushes. This was obviously a strong position. The royal army could advantageously defend the slope against a front attack, and there was a broken and difficult country on each side.

It was clearly the king's game here to await the assault of Essex's force, which they could neither well avoid attacking nor make attack save under great disadvantage. The royalist army had got between the parliamentary army and London, and Essex had peremptory orders to stop their advance. Nevertheless, it