190 RAMBLES OF A VOfMINIS 



pikemen. " One charge more, gentlemen, and we recover 

 the day." But an officer riding at his side laid hand on 

 the Royal bridle rein. " Sire," said he," will you go upon 

 your death ? " As he turned the king's charger aside, 

 the movement was mistaken by the troops for a signal 

 to retire. Panic seized the men. They " turned and 

 rode upon the spur as if they were every man to shift 

 for himself. It is very true that upon the more soul- 

 dierly word stand, which was sent after them, many of 

 them returned to the king, though the former unlucky 

 word carried more from him." The fighting ceased with 

 the rout of the last regiment of foot. 



Rupert returned from his victorious pursuit too late 

 to be of service to his master. No efforts now could 

 restore order to the scattered troops. The day was lost. 

 The wreck of the royal army galloped from the field. 

 Down the long slope from Naseby swept the Roundheads 

 in pursuit. A party of fugitives, caught in a cul de sac 

 near the village church of Marston, were cut to pieces to 

 a man. Through the streets of Market Harborough 

 thundered the shouting chase. Far across the open 

 country, almost to the walls of Leicester, followed the 

 victorious Ironsides. Of the Royal cavalry, perhaps two 

 thousand got away. Of the bold infantry that before 

 the dawn had marched up from Harborough along the 

 green Northamptonshire lanes, hardly a hundred escaped. 

 A Roundhead colonel of dragoons declared, that only 

 two footmen reached the gates of Leicester. Five 

 thousand prisoners, all the guns, the royal standard, and 

 a hundred colours were among the fruits of victory. 



