A HISTORY OF BEDFORDSHIRE 



foot were expected to be at Bedford that night, where Cromwell was also 

 expected with his dragoons from Cambridge.'" ' Our army being very 

 nigh the king's army we know not how soon they may engage.' The 

 tension was soon relieved by the battle of Naseby on 14 June 1645."* 



After this signal defeat the king withdrew to Raglan, where he found 

 himself threatened by Leven and the Scots from the north and by Fairfax 

 from the south. The latter complained that the Associated counties were 

 anything but prompt in sending their full tale of men, or in checking 

 desertion;'*' and Bedfordshire was asked to send him 150 more recruits."* 

 The king wrote to Rupert on 3 August that ' as a mere soldier or statesman' 

 he now saw no probability but of his ruin, though he was resolved to hold 

 to the cause of God, his successors, and his friends.'" On 5 August he left 

 Cardiff, and was at Doncaster by the i8th, where he found himself in 

 danger between Scottish and English forces. ' In his desperation he resolved 

 to make a dash upon the Associated counties,' "* and, eager to avoid being 

 overtaken by Leslie, who was ' demurring about Nottingham,' "^ he hurried 

 south with a force of about 2,200 horse and 400 foot.'" Reaching 

 Huntingdon on Sunday, 24 August,"' he heard of Montrose's victory at 

 Kilsyth, which assured him of relief from Leslie ; but Poyntz was on his track, 

 and, as he had not sufficient force for any serious attempt, all he could do 

 was ' to make a show of marching to the Associated counties,' and hasten 

 round by Bedfordshire through Oxford to Worcester.'*" His troops took 

 and plundered Huntingdon, and, as he marched through Huntingdonshire 

 and north Bedfordshire, roving parties of cavalry stripped the country of 

 everything valuable on which they could lay their hands. It was all one to 

 them whether they despoiled Royalists or Parliamentarians. ' To say the 

 truth,' confessed one of the king's warmest supporters, ' our horse made all 

 men delinquents where they quartered thereabouts.' '" On Monday they 

 reached Bedford and Barton ; '** the king slept at Woburn on Monday and 

 Tuesday nights, and next day was at the Earl of Carnarvon's house at Wing.'*' 

 This hasty raid was the last appearance of Royalist troops in Bedfordshire 

 until the second outbreak of civil war in 1648. 



The demands on the county now became less burdensome. On 

 21 October 100 men were sent to serve against Newark,'** and on 

 10 December the gentlemen of Bedfordshire were desired to send money 

 to those of this county in service there and at Belvoir.'*^ In January 1645—6 

 the Committee of Both Kingdoms wrote to Colonel Whalley with reference 

 to the quartering of his horse in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, 'whereby 

 places wholly in our power are wasted and rendered unable to pay taxes,' 

 and bidding him quarter his horse and dragoons in 'the enemy's country.''*' 

 On 22 January Bedfordshire was directed to send Fairfax 150 recruits,'*^ and 



"' Cal. S.P. Dom. 1644-5, P- 586. "' Gardiner, op. cit. ii, 207-18. s^ Ibid. 228. 



''* 30 ]une, Ca/. S.P. Dom. 1644-5, p. 625. "" Rushworth, Hist. Coll. vi, 132-3. 



"* Gardiner, op. cit. ii, 262. "' Digby to Jermyn, Cal. S.P. Dom. 1645-7, P- 1 1 2. 

 "' Gardiner, op. cit. ii, 261. A dispatch of 29 Aug. estimates his force at 4,000; Cal. S.P. Dom. 

 1645-7, p. 95. 



'" Gardiner, op. cit. ii, 273. "» Digby to Jermyn, loc. cit. 



"' Walker, Hist. Disc. (1705), 136. ' 



'" Cal. S.P. Dom. 1645-7, P- 85 ; presumably Barton in south Beds. 



'" Iter Carolinum, Somers Tracts, v, 267. "* Cal. S.P. Dom. 1645-7 P 20? 



^« Ibid. 257. '« Ibid. 301. '"Ibid. 319. -^^ "*-• »' 



SO 



