Englands Worthies, Browne
Major Generall Brown.
THis most gallant Gentleman being a brave spirited Citizen, and was sent by the Parliament into Kent, in the yeere 1643, for the appeasing of a desperate and dangerous Insurrection, raised and fomented in that County by the Malignants, the ill-affected Gentry and common people, there; where he managed things with such singular prudence and prowesse that in a short time, he put the main body of them of flight about S…ano…k▪ …ok 2…0 of them prisoners found about 1… slain on the place, besides many whom they had secretly conveyed away; and by this meanes he with the speedy help of some of the well-affected Gentry of the County soon appeased that Rebellion over the whole County.
2. He also after this, took the Towne of Winchester, with all the Armes and Ammunition, in the most famous battail at A… ford in Hampshire, fought by renowned Sir William Waller, against Sir …lph Hop…, and his very potent Army, this most valiant and renowned Major Generall was a principall actor and most un…ted Commander and a speciall meanes of obtaining a most glorious Victory, there, over the Royall enemies.
3. In Iune 1644, the Parliament most worthily having in mind his approved fidelity, wisdome, and magnanimity, made him Major Generall or Commander in chief of three Counties, viz. Oxfordshire, Berks, and Buckinghamshire; investing him with full power to exercise Martiall Law, for the reducing of those Counties to a peaceable condition.
4. And not long after being made Governour of Abbington, he was a continuall Thorn in the eyes, and Goad in the sides of Oxford and the adjacent Royall Garrisons, putting them to perpetuall losse and vexation; And in February 1644, he sent forth a party of horse toward Farringdon Garrison, where he took their whole Court of guard prisoners; and immediately after took 27 horse-load of Corne, Cheese, and other provisions going to Oxford, whereof they had (at that time) very great need.
5. He also beat the Oxonians neere unto a Town called Hedington, where he took 4 or 5 Carts laden with provisions for Oxford, rescued 2 or 3 Carts of provision going to Abbington, slew 7 or 8 of the Ox… nians on the place, that had taken them, took between 30 and 40 prisoners of them▪ and their chief Commander; rescued also, then, some of ours, and the Oxford prisoners then taken, being found to be most of them base and bloody Irish, …ee presently hanged according to an Ordinance of Parl.
6. He also took at Chalgrove, a Town 7 miles from Oxford provision going for Oxford, with 6 peeces (or Pipes) of Sack, and the Wine-Cooper with them▪ and immediately after, overtook a Waggon laden with Sugar and other good provisions, going to Oxford which also he seized on and sent to Abbington to make his souldiers merry, he there also took severall packs of fine cloth going thither together with the horses, slew an Irish Major refusing quarter, and took 19 or 20 good horses more in another conflict with them.
7. He also beat the enemy at a place called Buckland, who were going to Farrington, whom he overtook, bravely fought with them, & discomfited them, took a Captain prisoner, with 3 Officers more, and 10 other prisoners, and immediately after this met with a company of the enemies comming from the Devizes, fell upon them, put them to the rout, took a Colonell prisoner, a Serjeant Major, 3 Captaines, 3 Lievtenants, and divers other prisoners, besides many horse and Armes, and sent them all safe to Abbington.
8. About Ianuary in the yeere 1645, he sent out a party of this his most active Garrison against some Wallingford horse that were plundering and pillaging abroad in the Country, whom at last they found and bravely encou…ed, and in the conflict took Lievtenant Col. Lour (then Deputy-Governour of Wallingford) with some other Officers and prisoners of note, took 50 of their horse, riders and Armes, and also rescued 30 horse of ours▪ which the enemy had taken before in other places, and thus continually weakned and impoverished all the enemies Garrisons round about him, proving ever (by the great mercy and goodnesse of the Lord) most successefull against them. And to adde histre and honour to all these his famous performances, he was chosen a most worthy Member (and so honourably continues) of the most honourable House of Commons in Parliament▪ and now at last is one of the honourable Commissioners, Guardians, or attendants upon his Majesties person at Holme…y in Northamptonshire.