30 



about 1500 armes, the most of their muskets being neere upon a foot longer 

 than all ordinary muskets are ; that amongst the Welch were found many 

 women which had knives near half a yard long to effect some notable 

 massacrees with them." 



The account of this engagement is also given in a little boob 

 published in 1647 under the title of " England's Worthies", at 

 page 79 : — 



" He also, most undauntedly (with the help of renowned Colonel Masset 

 then Governor of Gloucester) set upon 2000 of the King's Welsh forces in 

 the Forest of Deane under the command of the Lord Herbert, beat them 

 out of their trenches, slew about 600 on the place, took 400 of them 

 prisoners, took 6 troopes of as brave horse as all England could shew ; 

 almost all their armes and ammunition, together with 5 pieces of ordnance." 



Mr. Skillicorn has in his possession a little tract published 

 in the year 1643, the title being : — 



"A famous victorie obtained by Sir William Waller against the Lord 

 Herbert and the Welch Cavaliers in the Forest of Deane, in the County 

 of Gloucester, where six hundred of the Welchmen were slaine, and a 

 thousand taken prisoners by the Parliament Forces, the said Lord HERBERT, 

 General of South Wales being slain ; 



And from it is taken the following extract : — 



" And to make this intended victory (which was afterwards obtained) 

 the more complete, Su- W. Waller gave notice of this designe to Col. 

 Massey, who is Governor of Gloucester, with directions for him at such a 

 time to issue forth with a considerable party from thence on the other side 

 of the river, being the time which he intended to fall upon the Welch forces; 

 which businesse on both sides being pursued with effect (according to the 

 most certain relation) fell out to be thus: — 



' ' Sir William Waller suddenly retui-ning from about Cicester, and 

 with a sjieedy march coming to Deane, fell upon the Welchmen, who at 

 the first seemed to make strange of running away and therefore for a while 

 fought very manfully till about six hundi-ed of them were slaine, and nee 

 a thousand taken prisoners, so that very few could escape to the mountains 

 to bring tidings of her countrey's valour." 



The two following extracts from the " Mercurius Aulicus" of 

 March 29th, 1642-3, and April 2, 9, 1643, show that Waller 

 was charged with treachery and perfidiousness in his attack 

 on the Welsh intrenchments : — 



"News also come this day that Sir William Waller having by his 

 perfidiousness and treachery beaten up Lord Herbert's quarters as before 

 was stated had marched on Tewkesbury, which he took and pillaged." 



