it will turn out an entire mistake. I advise all modern readers not only to believe that Cromwell here means what he says; but even to try how they, each for himself in a new dialect, could mean the like, or something better!—
Prince Rupert rode out of Bristol amid seas of angry human faces, glooming unutterable things upon him; growling audibly, in spite of his escort, ‘Why not hang him!’ For indeed the poor Prince had been necessitated to much plunder; commanding ‘the elixir of the Blackguardism of the Three Kingdoms,’ with very insufficient funds for most part!—He begged a thousand muskets from Fairfax on this occasion, to assist his escort in protecting him across the country to Oxford; promising, on his honour, to return them after that service. Fairfax lent the muskets; the Prince did honourably return them, what he had of them,—honourably apologising that so many had ‘deserted’ on the road, of whom neither man nor musket were recoverable at present.
From Bristol the Army turned Southward again, to deal with the yet remaining force of Royalism in that quarter. Sir Ralph Hopton, with Goring and others under him, made stubborn resistance; but were constantly worsted, at Langport, at Torrington, wheresoever they rallied and made a new attempt. The Parliament Army went steadily and rapidly on; storming Bridgewater, storming all manner of Towns and Castles; clearing the ground before them: till Sir Ralph was driven into Cornwall; and, without resource or escape, saw himself obliged next spring[1] to surrender, and go beyond seas. A brave and honourable man; respected on both sides; and of all the King’s Generals the most deserving respect. He lived in retirement abroad; taking no part in Charles Second’s
- ↑ Truro, 14th March 1645-6 (Rushworth, vi. 110).
