The First Book 39 



he was ready and willing, for his part, to obey his Highness 

 in all things, no otherwise than if his Majesty was there in per- 

 son himself ; and though several of my Lord's friends advised 

 him not to engage in battle, because the command (as they 

 said) was taken from him : yet my Lord answered them, that 

 happen what would, he would not shun to fight, for he had 

 no other ambition but to live and die a loyal subject to his 

 Majesty. 



Then the Prince and my Lord conferred with several of their 

 officers, amongst whom there were several disputes concerning 

 the advantages which the enemy had of sun, wind, and ground. 

 The horse of his Majesty's forces was drawn up in both wings 

 upon that fatal moor called Hessom Moor ; and my Lord asked 

 his Highness what service he would be pleased to command 

 him ; who returned this answer, that he would begin no action 

 upon the enemy till early in the morning ; desiring my Lord 

 to repose himself till then. Which my Lord did, and went to 

 rest in his own coach that was close by in the field, until the 

 time appointed 1 . 



Not long had my Lord been there, but he heard a great 

 noise and thunder of shooting, which gave him notice of the 

 armies being engaged. Where upon he immediately put on 



possibly make a shift (upon the defensive) to spin out time until you come to assist 

 me. YVherefore, I command and conjure you, by the duty and affection which I know 

 you bear me, that all new enterprises laid aside, you immediately march, according 

 to your first intention, with all your force to the relief of York. But if that be either 

 lost, or have freed themselves from the besiegers, or that for want of powder you cannot 

 undertake that work, that you immediately march with your whole strength directly 

 to Worcester, to assist me and my army ; without which, or your having relieved York 

 by beating the Scots, all the successes you can afterwards have must infallibly be use- 

 less unto me.' The letter is dated ' Ticknell, June 14, 1644 '. 



1 There is an interesting account of this discussion amongst the Clarendon Stale Papers 

 (No. 1805), which Dr. Gardiner was kind enough to point out to me. It is a paper of 

 rough notes on the northern campaign, drawn up by Clarendon himself, and based, 

 no doubt, on the information of some of the persons concerned in it. 



_ ' The next morning the Marquis went out of the city to attend the Prince, and found 

 him upon his march and the enemy£having placed themselves upon a hill ; and when 

 the Marquis overtook the Prince they both alighted, and after salutations went again 

 to horse, and the Prince said " My Lord, I hope we shall have a glorious day. So the 

 Earl asked whether he meant to put it to a day, and urged many reasons against it ; 

 the Prince replied " Nothing venture, nothing have " etc. Several persons had that 

 morning reported that the Prince had an absolute commission to command those parts, 

 and that the Marquis's power was at an end. When Major-General King came up 

 Prince Rupert showed the Marquis and the Earl a paper, which he said was the draught 

 of the battle as he meant to fight it, and asked them what they thought of it. King 

 answered " By God, sir, it is very fine in the paper, but there is no such thing in the 

 fields." The Prince replied " Not so " etc. The Marquis asked the Prince what he 

 would do ? His Highness answered " We will charge them to-morrow morning." 

 My Lord asked him, whether he were sure the enemy would not fall on them sooner ; 

 he answered No ; and the Marquis goes to his coach hard by, and calling for a pipe 

 of tobacco, before he could take it the enemy charged, and instantly all the Prince's 

 horse were routed. Goring beat the other wing, etc.' 



