sition (those at Warrington being soon put to flight by his presence), until he came to Worcester. His army consisted of twelve thousand effectual fighting men (whereof two thousand English, the rest of the Scottish nation); but neither excellently armed, nor plentifully stored with ammunition, whilst the Parliament forces under Cromwell more than doubled that number, wanting nothing [but a good cause] that an army could wish or desire. The royalists' chiefest strength consisted in two passes they possessed over the river of Severn, which proved not advantageous according to expectation; for the enemy found the river fordable elsewhere; and the bridge and pass at Upton, though valiantly defended by major-general Massey (who received a shot in his hand) was forced by Lambert pouring in unequal numbers on the king's forces. Besides, Cromwell finished a bridge of boards and planks over the main river, with more celerity, and less resistance, than could have been expected in a matter of such importance. Then began the battle; wherein his majesty, to remember his subjects' good, forgot his own safety, and gave an incomparable example of valour to the rest, by charging in his own person. This was followed by few to the same degree of danger; but imitated in the greatest measure, by the Highlanders, fighting with the butt-ends of their muskets when their ammunition was spent. But new supplies constantly charging them, and the main body of the Scotch horse not coming up in due time from the city to his majesty's relief, his army was forced to retreat in at Sudbury-gate in much disorder. If there were (which some more than whisper) false and foul play in some persons of principal trust; as they have had a great space seasonably, God grant them his grace sincerely to repent, for their treacherous retarding the happiness, prolonging and increasing the miseries, of a gracious king and three great nations! Sure it is, here were slain the flower of the Scottish loyal gentry, with the most illustrious William (formerly earl of Laneric) duke of Hamilton. As for common soldiers, some few who had escaped had a longer life, to have a sadder death, wandering in the country till other men's charity and their own strength failed them. Since, how God hath conducted his majesty miraculously, through labyrinths of many difficulties, to the peaceable possession of his throne, is notoriously known to the wonder of the world. Here my Muse heartily craveth leave to make an humble address to his majesty; depositing at his feet the ensuing Panegyric : PANEGYRIC ON CHARLES II. 385 PANEGYRIC. 1. Ar Worc'ster great God's goodness to our nation, ¡ 8. GOD's justice now no longer could dispense 9. The pillar which God's people did attend, But to you and himself, sense plain and clear. 10. By means unlikely God achieves his end, 11. Men's loyal thoughts conceived their time was good. 12. So Solomon most wisely did conceive, 13. Th' impatient land did for your presence long, 14. Th' officious wind to serve you did not fail, 15. Your narrow seas, for foreigners do wrong PANEGYRIC ON CHARLES II. 16. You land at Dover; shoals of people come, 17. Great London the last station you did make; When Conduits did both French and Spanish speak. Keeps out your foes, God keep you from your friends! 18. THE bells aloud did ring, for joy they felt; And round about the streets the bonfires blaz'd. With which New-lights fanatics were amaz'd. The brandish'd swords this boon begg'd before death, 19. The Spaniard, looking with a serious eye, Was forc'd to trespass on his gravity. But all in vain, who openly admir'd. The French, who thought the English mad in mind, 20. The Germans seeing this your sudden power, 21. Long live our gracious CHARLES, second to none Be you above your ancestors renown'd, Whose goodness wisely doth your greatness bound; And, knowing that you may be what you would, 22. Europe's great arbitrator, in your choice 23. As Sheba's queen defective Fame accus'd, Th' abundant worth of Solomon, and told Not half of what she after did behold: The same your case, Fame hath not done you right; 387 And here my Muse craves her own Nunc dimittis, never to make verses more; and because she cannot write on a better, will not write on another occasion, but heartily pray in prose for the happiness of her lord and master. And now, having taken our Vale of verses, let us therewith take also our Farewell of Worcestershire. THE FAREWELL. I read in a good author* how the State of Lunenburg in Germany (whose chief revenues arise from the sale of salt) prohibited poor people the benefit thereof. Whereupon Divine Providence (offended that a monopoly was made of his mercy) stopped the flowing of those salt-springs for a time, till the poor were restored to their partage therein. I am not particularly instructed, what share the poor have in the salt of this shire, not knowing how their interest is stated therein: but I presume the concernments of the poor are well cared for, and all things equally ordered betwixt them and rich people, grounding my confidence on the long and large continuance of the salt-pits amongst them. All I will add is this; I shall pray that they may endeavour for spiritual-soul-savouriness," that their speech may be always with grace seasoned."+ As for the loyal city of Worcester (which deserves a particu lar Farewell by itself), I heartily desire that God would be pleased to restore unto it the years which the locust, caterpillar, and palmer-worm, have devoured. And how quickly can he do it (as by infinite other ways, so) by blessing the clothing, the staple commodity in this county! not formerly omitted by me, but pretermitted till this occasion. Sure it is, that the finest (though this may seem a word of challenge) cloth of England is made at Worcester; and such, I believe, was that which Erasmus,‡ that great critic (who knew fine cloth as well as pure Fines Morison, in his Travels, p. 3. † Col. iv. 6. In his Colloquy, intituled, “ UxoR Μεμψίγαμος. |