Englands Worthies, Skippon
The famous Asts and most memorable Performances of the truly honourable, and as vertuous as valiant heroick-hearted brave Commander, Phillip Skippon Marshall Gen. of all the Forces of the most high and honourable Court of Parliament of England, for the Kingdome of Ireland▪
1. THis renowned Souldier and brave Commander, Marshall-Generall Skippon, served with much deserved honour in himselfe and reputation to his native Country, in the Belgicke-Warres, in the Netherlands, under that most renowned Prince of Orange, Grave Maurice of Nassaw for the space of—yeeres.
2. After this, returning again into England, the Martiall-spirited Sparkes of the famous Artillery-Garden of the most renowned City of London, to his no little honour, chose him their pious and most expert Gimnasiarchus, or Captain of the said Artillery-Garden to exercise and instruct them in the exactest rules of Martiall Discipline where he, thus, continued with much honour and love for the space of— yeeres.
3. Afterward about the yeere 1642, at the beginning of our most unhappy Civill-Warres, the King being, then, in discontent departed from his Parliament, and at Yorke; and there understanding that the Parliament had set the Militia on foot, for the safe-guard of the Kingdome, and more particularly in the City of London; and that the Parliament (at the desire of the said City) had made this famous and faithfull old expert Souldier, their Major Generall of all the City forces, in May 1642. He presently directed a letter to him, to require and command his personall attendance on his Majesty at Yorke, all excuses being set apart. But, he most loyally acquainting the Parliament therewith, was by both Houses of Parliament inhibited from going, and by an Ordinance of Parliament or three severall Votes for his indempnity, in both Houses, was cleered from any legall or disloyall disobedience to the Kings command therein.
4. In November, 1642 this noble and renowned brave Christian souldier was made Serjeant Major Generall of all the Parliaments forces for the defence of the Kingdome, under the most noble and renowned Lord Generall Robert Earle of Essex, his Excellency deceased.
5. About December 1643, this brave Commander, with a party of impregnable-hearted and renowned Romane-like London souldiers, and valiant and Victorious Northampton forces, most couragiously stormed Grafton house in Northamptonshire (a place of very great strength and consequence, and the Queenes own Joynter) which after much hard service and many most furious assaults upon it, they most Victoriously obtained, and took prisoners therein, Colonell Sir Iohn Digby (a ranke and most active Papist, and Brother to that arch Traytor, George Lord Digby) Colonell Sir Edward Longervile, and 5 Colonels more, above 300 common souldiers, 600 Armes, 6 peeces of Ordnance, 80 brave horse, besides many brave Saddle-horses, with very many other rich spoyles, which were left to his Souldiers for their encouragement.
6. In September 1644, the main body of the Parliaments foot forces being necessitously left in a noose (as it were) or corner of Cornwall, in the remotest part of the West of the Kingdome, under the command in chiefe of this our most renowned Vertuous and Valiant Commander (of whom I may not here, especially, forget that most memorable Adagie, as it were, that,, Hee liv'd like an Angell, Pray'd like a Saint, and fought like a Lyon) and being there reduced to such a straight, as that the enemy hoped, now, to have made them all their bloody prey; and which this brave Commander observing, and that they must of necessity, either basely yeeld to ignoble and slavish Captivity, or else fight and die honourably, which last, he most magnanimously choosing, so admirably encouraged all the rest of his souldiers thereunto, both by his couragious and Christian resolute speeches and exhortations, and also by his invincible spirit and personall example; that after a most fierce and bloody fight, they forced their own conditions through the death and wounds of many of their bloodeist enemies, and in spight of all their adversaries greatest power and fury, this most noble Commander most bravely brought them all off with their lives and honour preserved, and to the enemies great losse and shame in the issue.
7. And here also, wee may not forget that most brave piece of service performed (about Aprill 1645,) by this most wise godly and gallant Commander, in reducing and setling the new Moddel'd Army, in divers Regiments both of horse and foot upon that great change and alteration of the former unruly Army (at least in the opinion of most men) which after a most excellent speech unto them, and by his most grave, godly, and discreet managing of things among them, hee so sweetly setled and composed as was even to admiration, and was a great and most gratefull worke to the Parliament and whole Kingdome, as things then stood.
8. And in the most furious and famous battle at Nazeby, in Northamptonshire, about the midst of June 1645, this most virtuous and valiant Commander having bin a most eminent actor and instrument (under God) of obtaining that most glorious and Kingdome-Crowning Victory, there received (among divers other▪ wounds) one most deepe and dangerous wound which was credibly reported to be about 8 inches long in his body on the left side, under his short ribs, by a bullet which had most dangerously battered his Armour and broken and beaten a piece of it into his belly, which lay long there to his great continued pain, so that there was no small fear of his precious life. And it was credibly reported, that the King himselfe should say (in a kind of a consolitary way, to himself) when he heard of this, That though he had lost the Victory at Nazeby, yet Skippon was slain. But praised be God it proved otherwise.
9. After this renowned Commander had lyen a while at Northampton Town, or thereabout, for the dressing of his wounds, and it being held fit (by the Parliament, who took tender care over him) to remove him thence to London, for the more hopefull cure: This brave Gentleman being with all easiest conveniencie, put into a horse litter to be brought to London, and comming to Islington a Town a little more then a mile from London; It pleased the Lord that it should so fall out (to the greater setting forth of his Power and Providence) that in the said Town, a great Mastiffe-Dog, on a suddain, ran most fiercely out of a house, fell furiously upon one of the horses that carryed the Litter, got the horse by the Stones, behind, made the horse, thereby, fling and fly about, and beat and shake the Litter up and down, too and fro, in a most dangerous manner shaking the good Gentlemans sorely wounded body thereby, and ready continually to overthrow the Litter and greatly endanger the noble Gentlemans life; All which while there being no possible meanes to beat off the Dog, or make him leave his hold of the horse, till they ran him through with a Sword and kill'd him; which as soone as they could, they did; and so brought this noble Gentleman to his house in Bartholmewes the great, where▪ notwithstanding all this (the Lord had so admirably enabled him to beare this terrible brunt) being laid to rest in his bed, Prayers sent up to God for him in all the Churches in London, and speciall care had to the cure of his wound, by Gods blessing on the industry and fidelity of the honest and Religious Chyrurgion Mr. Trapham, who at length▪ by Gods mercy got out a great piece of a rag of his wastcoat, which had been beaten into his body, by his Armour, through the force of the bullet, and lay festering in the wound, but thus got out, in Gods good time, a perfect c…re was made of it. Thus it was made manifest to the whole World, that God had graciously reserved him unto, yet some more glorious worke for the honour of his great Name, and me good of his poore Church.
10. About the midst of September following, 1645, the brave City of Bristoll being taken from the Royalists, it pleased the Parliament to reflect on the former constant faithfulnesse and high merits of this renowned Commander, and so to honour him (as he deserved) as to make him Governour of Bristoll: where, also he carryed himselfe most piously and prudently, both in point of Religion, and of Martiall discipline to the great honour of God, and good of the City.
11. Since which also, the Parliament most deservedly still eying his prudence, piety, and fidelity to the State, made choise of him, with a power of about 3000 horse and Dragoones to bee a convoy for the 200000. l. to Newcastle, for our loyall and ever to be beloved Brethren of Scotland; And immediately after, chose him Governour of Newcastle also, giving him power to substitute a Deputy-Governour of the City of Bristoll, and himselfe to be the Superiour Governour thereof, notwithstanding.
12. And since all this, to adde a yet more glorious lustre to all these honours, which God had thus conferr'd upon him; This noble Commander, being most highly honoured in the hearts of the people also, was chosen by them, a most worthy member of the house of Commons in Parliament. And yet again, now, at last (and yet, I hope, tis not the last) as if the God of Heaven intended to make him one of his speciall and peculiar favourites, he hath put into the hearts of the Lords and Commons in Parliament, to make choice of him, to bee their Marshall-Generall of all their forces for the distressed Kingdom… of Ireland, this present yeere 1647. In which▪ so Supereminent a place of honour and action, the God of Jacob be with him, the God of Counsell and Courage guard and guide him, and lead him on … and to Conquer, untill he also … Peace in that poore Kingdome. Amen and Amen.
Collonell ma…is Appoynted Leivtenant Generall▪ of the Horse raysed for Ireland by the Parliment.