26 



It is clear therefore that we cannot rely either upon the 

 statement of Corbett, or of Sir William Waller himself. 



The chief newspapers of that day were the "Perfect Diurnal or 

 Parliamentary Organ," the " Mercurius Aulicus or Coit^rt Journal," 

 the former published in London, the latter in Oxford ; the 

 " Kingdome's Weekly Intelligencer," the " Continuation of Special 

 andRemarhahlePassages," and "Certaine Informations," with some 

 others of lesser note. Copies of these were carefully examined 

 in the Library of the British Museum, and especially in the 

 very remarkable collection of newspapers and tracts, known 

 as the "Thomason Collection" presented to the Library by 

 George III. These seem to have been most carefully got 

 together from day to day as they came out, and several of the 

 extracts which follow are taken from the volume sent by 

 Thomason to Charles I, at Oxford, and which fell from the hand 

 of the King when mounting his horse. This fact is duly 

 recorded by Thomason himself on the fly leaf and the cover, 

 and many of the pages are stained by the mud of the road. 



The two following extracts are from the " Perfect Diurnal," 

 March 27th to April 3rd, 1643. 



"And so having intelligence that the Lord Herbert was gotten into 

 Gloucestershire with some considerable forces of Wolchmen, and has come 

 over the River of Seveme to a place called the Forest of Deane, (where 

 they began to make worse havock than Skiiuington did, not long since, in 

 the same with a tumultuous crew) ; the said Sir "William, when they 

 expected his coming to Cicester, advanced with his forces towards Deane, 

 and fell upon the Lord Herbert's forces there, and Colonel Massey who 

 is Governor of Gloucester, coming also with two or three i-egiments from 

 thence upon their an-eare, it is infoi-med that about 600 of the Welchmen 

 were slaine, and 1000 taken prisoners and all their colours, arms, and 

 ammunition taken." 



" By letters from Gloucester it is for certain informed that Sir WiLLlAM 

 Waller hath lately given the Welch forces before Gloucester a very great 

 defeate, which is said to be after this manner : Sir William with his forces 

 coming neare Cicester made show, the better to conceale his purpose, as if 

 he intended to fall upon the towne, but his ayme was at Gloucester, and 

 had so ordered the business that Gloucester men had notice of his intent \ 

 and that ^vith the help of his flat bottomed barges, which he carrieth along 

 with him in the nature of waggons, and are very useful both by land and 



