Page:Englishhistorica36londuoft.djvu/51

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1921 THE BATTLE OF EDGEH1LL 43 ran into the Thames and about 200 of them, as we might judge, were there drowned by themselves, and so were guilty of their own deaths, for had they stayed and yielded up themselves, the king's mercy is so gracious that he had spared them all. We took their 6 or 8 colours, also their two pieces of ordnance and all this with a very small loss, God be praised, for believe me, I cannot understand that we lost 16 men, whereof one was a son of Mr. Daniell of Tabley [?], Mr. Thomas Daniell, a fine young gentleman (who was a lieutenant under my lord Kivers). He and his captain were both slain and a lieutenant of our own regiment but none of our countrymen. Then we thinking all had been done for that night 2 of our regiments marched up through the town to make good the entrance but were there again encountered a fresh onset which scattered like the rest after a short conflict, fled away towards Hammersmith and we were left masters of the town. That night most lay in the cold fields. Next morning early we were started afresh by the loud music of some cannon, which proved to be some 14 barges of theirs who with 13 ordnance and some 600 men attempted (very indifferently) to pass up the river from Kingston by the town where we lay to London, but being discovered, what from the banks and from Sion House (the earl of Northumberland's) where we had placed some four musketeers, within 2 or 3 hours space we sunk 4 or 5 of their vessels with the cannons in them, took the rest and 3 pieces in them for our breakfast. After which within 2 hours we could descry a great army marching down upon us from London, who came up within musket shot of us but the king finding his men wearied and being satisfied with what he had done before for that time and having no convenient room for his horse (which is the greatest pillar of his army) to fight, very wisely drew off his men by degrees and unperceived by them leaves the town naked, some of his horse dragooners keeping them deceived till the foot were all gone and then they galloped in the rear. After which the enemy perceiving played on their back with their cannon but with no harmful success at all, God be praised. So that night we marched towards Hampton Court, next day into Kingston, a great town which they had manned the day before with 6000 men in it but left it upon our fight at Brentford. So here we are now very safe, our foot and our horse round about us. And so you have a brief report of what these days have brought forth. God hath been merciful to us above all our praise and acknowledg- ment. His holy name be magnified. Praise him all ye his people for he hath delivered David his servant and preserved his anointed from the edge of the sword. Kingston upon Thames. M. S. November 15, 1642. IV British Museum, Add. MS. 34713, fo. 1. Charles R. Our will and pleasure is, that out of such of our treasure as is in your custody you pay or cause to be paid by way of impress upon accompt these several sums hereunder expressed unto some chief officer of every