Life of the Duke 41 



his best endeavours to blast those their wicked designs 

 in the bud ; and thereupon took a resolution in April 

 1643, to march with part of his army from Wakefield 

 into the mentioned parts, attended with a convenient 

 train of artillery and ammunition, leaving the greatest 

 part of it at Wakefield with the remainder of his 

 army, under the care and conduct of his General of 

 the Horse, and Major-General of the army, which 

 was so considerable, both in respect of their number 

 and provision, that they did, as they might well, 

 conceive themselves master of the field in those 

 parts, and secure in that quarter, although in the 

 end it proved not so, as shall hereafter be declared^ 

 which must necessarily be imputed to their invigilancy 

 and carelessness. 



My Lord first marched to Rotherham, and finding 

 that the enemy had placed a garison of soldiers in 

 that town, and fortified it, he drew up his army in 

 the morning against the town, and summoned it ; but 

 they refusing to yield. My Lord fell to work with his 

 cannon and musket, and within a short time took it 

 by storm, and entered the town that very night; 

 some enemies of note that were found therein, were 

 taken prisoners; and as for the common soldiers, 

 which were by the enemy forced from their allegiance, 

 he shewed such clemency to them, that very many 

 willingly took up arms for his Majesties service, and 

 proved very faithful and loyal subjects, and good 

 soldiers. 



After My Lord had stayed two or three dayes there, 

 and ordered those parts, he marched with his army 

 to Sheffield, another market-town of large extent, 

 in which there was an ancient castle; which when 

 the enemies forces that kept the town came to hear 

 of, being terrified with the fame of My Lord's hitherto 



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