212 Appendix X 



The table at the end of Sprigge's work seems to imply that forty 

 of the garrison were killed and ninety taken prisoners during the 

 siege. Before many weeks passed Lucas was again actively em- 

 ployed. In the diary of Richard Symonds for December 23, 1645, 

 it is stated ' Lord Astley came to Worcester, being General of these 

 four counties, Sir Charles Lucas with him, Lieutenant-general of 

 the horse.' His career came to an end three months later with 

 the defeat of Astley' s army at Stow in the Wold in the following 

 March. The name of Lucas is not mentioned in the list of prisoners 

 given in many reports of the battle ; for instance, in the letter of 

 Colonel Morgan to the speaker. This is explained by a circumstance 

 mentioned by Vicars. ' Sir Charles Lucas, as was credibly re- 

 ported, was also taken in the fight, but immediately after rescued 

 by a party of fire-locks of the enemy, and on his rescue fled into 

 the wood hard by for hoped safety ; but after the fight our forces 

 searching the wood for stragglers found there the said Sir Charles 

 Lucas ' (Burning Bush, 399). Thus Lucas became a prisoner, and 

 it is presumed that he obtained his liberty by engaging himself to 

 Fairfax not to serve again against the Parliament. The sole evi- 

 dence for this fact, probable enough in itself, is in the letters ex- 

 changed between Fairfax and Lucas on June 19, 1648. Soon after 

 the siege of Colchester began, Fairfax sent a letter to the besieged 

 ' to acquaint them that Sir Charles Lucas had forfeited his parole, 

 his honour and faith, being his prisoner upon parole, and therefore 

 not capable of command or trust in martial affairs ' (Rushworth, 

 IV, ii, 1 160). To which Lucas replied : ' Sir, I wonder you should 

 question me of any such engagement, since I purchased my free- 

 dom and estate at a high rate by a great sum of money, which I 

 paid into Goldsmith's Hall, for which according to the ordinances 

 of the two Houses I was to enjoy my freedom and estate. When 

 I conceived myself in this condition, I sent a letter to your secretary, 

 desiring him to advertise your Lordship that I had punctually 

 performed my engagements as they stood in relation to your Lord- 

 ship. Upon which I had notice from him that you accepted of 

 my respects to you, which truly have never been wanting to your 

 person. But, my Lord, besides my inclinations and duty to the 

 service I am in at present, be pleased to examine whether the 

 law of nature hath not instigated me to take my sword again into 

 my hand, for when I was in peaceable manner in London, there 

 was a price set upon me by the committee of Derby House, upon 

 which I was constrained to retire myself into my own country, and 

 to my native town, for refuge ' (Fairfax Correspondence, iii, 57). 



In this letter Lucas admits that such an engagement as the one 

 supposed to have been contracted after his capture at Stow had 

 actually existed. At the same time he puts forward two pleas : 



