October 23, 1642
October 23, 1642
The story as it unfolds:

THE BATTLE OF EDGEHILL: THE ARMIES GATHER.

NEW AND EXCLUSIVE: THE KING'S ARMY FORMS, AND THE BATTLE BEGINS. THE EYEWITNESS OBSERVATIONS OF MR WILLIAM FIRTH, APPRENTICE, ANGLIA REDIVIVA CORRESPONDENT, AND KEEPER OF THE PRINCE'S POODLE.

AND THIS JUST IN: WHAT CAPTAIN CROMWELL OBSERVED FROM A BELL-TOWER, AND WHAT HE DID NEXT.

From the section: Letters

Dear Mother,

It is past midnight, and I write to tell you that by the time you receive this letter, we may well have joined battle with the King and the issue of this War decided.

It happened that Capt Cromwell, with myself, came in possession of near-certain knowledge that the King is nearby, and that there are Traitors among our army.

Capt-General Essex has called for a general muster at Kineton, about a half-day’s ride before us, to gather the Army so strung out along these sodden Ruts of roads.

Col Hampden has ordered our Troop to ride swift to Essex with this Intelligence, even as he gathers the best of the Foot and the Artillery-train, and follows as quick as the roads and weary men will bear.

Mother, battle is near, blood will be spilled in England, with much grief, but which may bring a Resolution to these Troubles, and allow my return home. Please remember me in your prayers, as you are constantly in mine; and please give my greetings to Father, and to Anne.

Edmund

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From the section: Letters

Dear Mr Holyfen,

I write in haste. Yesterday I accompanied Rupert on a Scouting expedition, and we discovered the army of Essex strung out on the roads between Stratford-on-Avon and Kineton, with the van (and I assume Essex himself) approaching that Village (and I presume there now, and also presume sleeping). Rupert implored the King, in a Council at midnight, to join battle; and the King has called for a general Muster of his army (quartered in Wormleighton, Copredy, Ratley, a few other Towns I don’t recall) on top of Edgehill, a very high hill about two miles from Kineton, which offers a clear Prospect of the entire valley into which Essex’s army must needs march. It’s from top of this Noble Mount that I write, as the keeper of Rupert’s reknowned Dog. He and the King and the rest of his so-called Court, including the Earl of Lindsay, with an expression of utter aggravated Martyrdom, like a Papist Statue, are fifteen feet from me, squinting through glasses toward Kineton, from which the smoke of Cook-fires seems to be rising.

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From the section: Histories

8 of the clock: Boy and I, some distance from the King (he in black velvet Cloak, lined with some sort of Fur, a Steel cap, also velveted, no Fur) & his Officers (Rupert, Prince Maurice, Sir J. Astley, Lindsay, the Scots officer Rooftin (check spelling) – again, bickering again, on Swedish vs Dutch. King as is his Wont makes situation Worse by asking Lindsay if he would be “so kind as t-t-too allow our s-s-s-servant Gen Rooftin, who served under Our Majestical brother Monarch Gustavus to Draw up the Army a-a-a-a-according to the F-f-f-f-orm and Order P-p-p-p-pioneered by that m-m-m-m-most Honored m-m-m-m-monarch.

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NEW YORK

Printed by RAYOGRAM, near the Tombs,
for Commissary-General JAMES HOLLOWAY,
and available through the AETHER; 2009.