THS TLJCE OF <B47TL6 183 



night assault. The army of Fairfax was held idle by the 

 resolute defence of Oxford. 



Fortune indeed seemed smiling on the Koyal cause. 

 But it was no more than seeming. The knowledge that 

 the Bang was treating for the help of foreign mercenaries 

 had roused against him a still more bitter feeling through 

 the country. Gerard was in Wales, unable to come to 

 his support. Goring, whose help the King was calling 

 for in vain, still loitered idly in the west. The repulse 

 of Fairfax and the raising of the siege of Oxford proved 

 a hollow triumph, for the main army of the New Model 

 was thus set free for more aggressive action. Fairfax 

 resolved to attack the King without delay. All avail- 

 able forces were summoned to his standard. Cromwell, 

 to the delight of the army, was made lieutenant-general, 

 with command of the cavalry. 



Charles for his part was wholly unaware of the move- 

 ments of his opponents ; but he and his commanders 

 regarded the "New Noddle" with supreme contempt. 

 So ill-informed or careless were the Royal officers that 

 the Parliamentary army was within eight miles of the 

 camp at Daventry before word was brought of their 

 advance. By the next evening the Royalist troops had 

 marched to Harborough, while the King himself had 

 quarters in the old hall at Lubenham, a couple of miles 

 to the westward. 



He was roused from his rest that night by the news 

 that Fairfax was at hand, and that Ireton had galloped 

 in the twilight into Naseby village and had captured 

 nearly the whole of the Royal outpost stationed there 



