i62 THE BATH ROAD 



with Essex at their head, they were to lead through 

 it ill the evening. Although they cut up Essex's 

 cavalry, Carnarvon himself fell in that gallant charge, 

 and was carried through the same gateway, a corpse, 

 that night. 



It was the Parliamentary foot, the London train- 

 bands, that saved the day, which would otherwise 

 have been a disastrous rout for their leader. They 

 withstood the cannonading and the impetuous charges 

 of Rupert's horse, and, with Essex himself among 

 them, in a conspicuous white hat, drove back the 

 Eoyalist infantry. It was not until night had fallen 

 that the contest ceased. Six thousand were slain 

 that day, and neither side had won. Essex was so 

 weakened that he retreated upon Reading the next 

 morning. 



He had nearly reached Theale when Rupert de- 

 scended upon his rear like a hurricane, and cut down 

 many of his troops in a spot still called, from this 

 circumstance, " Dead Man's Lane." 



The Royalists perhaps had slightly the better of 

 the First Battle of Newbury ; but at what a cost ! 

 Carnarvon, the young Earl of Sunderland ; and Lucius 

 Cary, Viscount Falkland, slain ! Falkland was Secre- 

 tary of State, and a patriot whose feelings were above 

 partizanship. He seems to have had a presentiment 

 of death, for he received the Sacrament on the 

 morning of the battle, saying, " I am weary of the 

 times, and foresee much misery to my country ; but 

 I believe I shall be out of it ere night." There is 

 a monument on Wash Common to him — 

 "■ The blameless and the brave," 



