153 
whilst the hedges and woods were thickly lined with musketeers, 
with the intention under their protection of gaining a flank of 
‘the enemy on the hill. So driving their opponents from hedge to 
hedge the road was presently cleared, and the whole army 
advanced by the broadway direct for Lansdown. 
Arrived at the foot of the hill, the position seemed almost 
inaccesssible, consequently there was here some little hesitation ; 
but Waller’s guns playing down upon them, the Cornish men, 
nothing daunted by this great disadvantage, and believing none 
to be their equals in battle, demanded leave to “fetch off those 
cannon.” Upon this the order was given to attempt the hill and a 
great number of musketeers were sent out to clear the woods, but 
the first result was failure, and the horse endeavouring to pass 
up the highway were also repulsed. Next, Sir Bevil Grenville 
advanced still hoping, if possible, to attack in flank. Himself 
leading on his pikemen in the centre, on his right he placed a 
strong body of horse, as that ground being “ mere brushwood 
and hedges” was most suitable for them ; and on his left the 
musketeers protected by a wall.* With these, marching with 
tremendous gallantry through a storm of shot large and small, 
~ coming too from an enemy entirely under cover, he managed to 
reach the brow of the hill. But there all further advance was 
checked by the barricades and breastworks of faggots and earth. 
Hardly was the brow gained when Waller’s horse fell in furiously 
upon them; but only after a two hours’ fierce struggle were 
they broken and forced off again. Yet they rallied and assaulted 
again and again. Five times did they thus attack to be four 
times repulsed,t until at the last, aided by the fire of the 
musketeers who had by now “ crowded up” through the wood, 
yet, with unimaginable difficulty, the hill was carried.+ 
Galled by the hidden fire from the wood the defenders were 
now retired to their original ground, and then was fully seen the 
fine piain on which stood the Parliament reserves of horse and foot, 
* Parliament Scout, No, 3,  —_,+ Clar. MSS. f Mere, Aulicus, 
