A HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX 



with the Royalists, was appointed commander-in-chief. 383 The general 

 scheme was rendered hopeless, however, by the premature rising in Kent 

 (21 May, 1648). After his defeat at Maidstone, Norwich, to whom 

 Holland had given the command in Kent, heard that thousands had risen 

 for the king in Essex, and that there were 2,000 men in arms at Bow. SM 

 The City refused to let him pass through, so he decided to cross the 

 Thames below London. 3 " He intended to go only to Bow and Stratford, 

 but finding that his news had been false and that there was no force 

 gathered to receive him, he went on to Chelmsford. About 500 men 

 had followed him, crossing the river in boats, with their horses 

 swimming. 3 " They meant to land in Essex, but on the morning of the 

 4 June they found themselves in Middlesex under the Hamlets of the 

 Tower. Here they were confronted by the regiment of the Hamletteers. 

 Their leader, Sir William Compton, prevailed upon the regiment to let 

 them pass on a promise to disband, but when they reached Bow Bridge 

 they forced the turn-pike to let them through into Essex, and met 

 Norwich, on his return from Chelmsford, at Stratford. 887 Fairfax had 

 meanwhile sent Colonel Whalley in pursuit of the Royalists. 388 He pressed 

 after them, but was beaten back and pursued to Mile End, where the 

 pursuers themselves fell into an ambuscade, and were forced to retreat. 

 The Hamletteers then returned to the attack, but were surrounded in Bow 

 church, where they had taken refuge, and were finally released on condi- 

 tion that they returned to their homes. The Royalists retired behind the 

 Lea, setting guards at the fords over the river ; and when a Parliamentary 

 force of dragoons was collected on Mile End Green, they withdrew to 

 Stratford. 369 There were a few skirmishes at ' Bow Townes End ' until 

 7 June, when the rising passed into Essex. 370 The earl of Holland took 

 the field on 4 July, being forced to act prematurely because the committee 

 at Derby House had knowledge of his intended rising. He appeared in 

 arms at Kingston, but after four days' skirmishing in Surrey he gave up 

 all hope of success, for he found that the Royalists did not join him, 

 and that the number of his followers dwindled daily. 371 On 7 July 

 the deputy-lieutenant of Middlesex was ordered to guard the bridges 

 and ferries over the Thames, and to secure the boats on his side of the 

 river. 378 Guards were posted in the county to prevent any person 

 from joining the rising in Surrey. 373 Holland entered Middlesex with a 

 small following, but without attempting an action ; he pushed through 

 the narrow lanes about Harrow on his way to St. Albans. 874 The 

 insurrection was finally ended by his capture on 9 July at St. Neots. 376 



" Gardiner, op. cit. iv, 138. >* Carter, A Most True and Exact Narrative, 102. Ibid. 



1 Gardiner, op. cit. iv, 138 ; cf. Carter, Narrative, 32 ; Clarendon, op. cit. iv, 358. 

 Carter, Narrative, 107-1 1. > Ludlow, Memoirs, i, 250. 



169 Carter, Narrative, 1 1 1-14. 



170 On 5 June Parliament passed an Act of Indemnity for all, except Norwich, who would lay 

 down arms ; Com. Journ. v, 586. On 7 June Sir William Hicb and others submitted ; Whitelocke, 

 Mem. 310. 



" Ludlow, Memoirs, i, 255. " Qal. S.P. Dom. 1648-9, p. 169. 



J bid - 93- Whitelocke, Mem. 3 j 8. 



Ludlow, Memoirs, i, 255. 



48 



