m 
159 
But little was done on Friday the 7th, both generals attending 
to their men and filling up their ranks. Sir William Waller lost 
no time, but busily recruited from the country round Bath which 
was so well inclined towards him, and sent to Bristol for reinforce- 
ments. His warrants issued to the people called upon them to 
join him cheerfully, and show their zeal for religion, law, and liberty ; 
and assured them their enemies were so weak and broken they 
might now easily be routed and the war concluded.* 
During this short repose the position of the royalists without 
ammunition and in a hostile country was certainly critical, and 
might well have caused the commanders some anxiety. It was 
probably for some political reason arising from these circumstances 
that Sir Ralph Hopton endeavoured to open negotiations with Sir 
William Waller, sending him a “ complimental and insinuating ” 
letter, desiring that they might meet and havea conference.t+ As 
any such meeting would have been useless, and might have been 
misconstrued, Sir William declined it, writing in reply ;—“ The 
“experience I have had of your worth, and the happiness I have 
“enjoyed in your friendship, are wounding considerations to me 
“when I look upon this present distance between us, Certainly 
“my affections to you are so unchangeable that hostility itself 
“cannot violate my friendship to your person, but I must be true 
«to the cause I serve, and where my conscience is interested all 
“other obligations are swallowed up. I should most gladly wait 
_ “upon you according to your desire, but that I look upon you as 
“engaged in that party beyond the possibility of retreat and con- 
“sequently incapable of being wrought upon by any persuasions ; 
“and now the conference could never be so close between us but 
“that it would take wind and receive a construction to my dis- 
“honour. That great God who is the searcher of our hearts 
“knows with what a sad sense I go upon this service, and with 
“what a perfect hatred I detest this war without an enemy. But 
_ “T look upon it as God-determined, and that is enough to silence 
* Mercurius Aulicus, + Certain Informations, No. 25, 
