Englands Worthies, Massey
The most eminent Actions and most famous and fortunate Performances of that most generous Gentleman, and as virtuous as valiant and Hectorean-hearted brave Commander in Armes Edward Massey, Lievtenant Generall of the horse for the most honourable Parliament of England, in the Kingdome of Ireland.
1. THis noble and renowned Gentleman having heretofore been an Apprentice of London (as to the high honour of that most famous City be it mentioned, his most famous fellow Citizens and Companions in Armes, those brave Sonnes of Bellona, renowned Major Generall Brown, now an honourable Commissioner with the King at Holmby, much honoured Colonell West Lievtenant of the Tower of London, and brave Colonell Harvey an honourable Member of the House of Commons likewise were) but being (then) a Sparkie-spirited Active and Ingenious young Gentleman, and by his studious dexterity becomming a most expert Engineere and valiant Souldier and Commander in forreign parts, and by the good hand of Gods all-wise disposall▪ returning home to his own native Country; and here also, in the yeere 1642. in the late bloody broyles of our Kingdome, having shewn himselfe a most brave Souldier and expert Commander, and obtaining (by his precious merits and activity, in those our homebred uncivill Civill-Warres) the place and honour of a Colonell; was soon after by noble and renowned Sir William Wallers meanes and high recommendations of him) most worthily and happily made Governour of the strong Towne or City of Gloucester.
2. This most noble and renowned Commander had not long continued in the gallant Government of this foresaid brave City, but that the King himselfe (in the top of his turbulent and truculent Warre (being mightily flesht with the taking of Bristoll a little before) would needs in his intended way to London (onelyonly as a viaticum) take Gloucester into his possession) with a most powerfull and wrathfull Army gave the said City of Gloucester a most unkind regreet and violent visitation. B…t this most noble and undaunted Governour Colonell Massey, gave his Majesty such a stop, and walk't his horse there so long, and entertain'd his King, with such deserved harsh and course welcome with Cannon and Musket shot, as that he (maugre all the might and malice of that most formidable Army) hee made his Majesty leave the bones and loose the heart-blood of many of the best and bravest unbidden and unwelcome guests before Gloucester Wals; and at last (with the happy help of the most noble and renowned Lord Generall the Earle of Essex and his brave London forces) enforced the King to relinquish this hoped fat morsell, and to depart extreame hungry and angry; being thus, both back-beaten and belly-beaten, to Gods eternall high praise and glory be it everlastingly remembred, to this most noble and renowned Colonels indelible fame and honour, be it mentioned, and to the unutterable joy and comfort of the whole Kingdome, especially (which was at that time in a most low and languishing, yea in a most drooping and dying condition, as ever it was in the whole time of that most wofull War, from the first to the last) be it for ever in deepe and broad Characters of golden gratitude registred and recorded.
3. After this, in the yeere 1643, the Royalists resolving still as much as possibly they could to gird up Gloucester, with Garrisons on all sides to …ire and starve it up if it might be; but this valiant and vigilant Governour, still cropt and lopt all their subtilest designes, in the very bud: As first hee dealt with Colonell Vavasor at Tewksbury, in December 1643, then immediately after this with Sir Iohn Winter, whom hee bravely beat out of Newnham, and soone after also, out of Wotton-Garrison, to his great losse and terrour.
4. In February following, hee beat Sir Henry Talbot in his own quarters at Shepstow, took him prisoner, and a brave prize besides. In March following he beat his neighbour enemies about … miles from Gloucester and took much and rich spoyle from them; Again soundly beat Sir Iohn Winter in the Forrest of Deane; And Colonell Min also in his own quarters on the borders of Wales.
5. In May following 1644, hee again … soundly scourged his Popish neighbour Sir Iohn Winter in Newnham … and Little-Deane in Gloucestershire, beating them in their own quarters, and taking many prisoners and prizes from them.
6. In Iune following, hee took B…verton Castle in Gloucestershire with all the Ordnance, Armes and Ammun…tion therein, Malmesbury also, with two Sonnes of the Parle of Barkeshire in it, 28 Officers, 7 or 8▪ peeces of Ordnance, 400 Armes, and other rich prize; together with Chippingham strong Garrison, with all the Armes and Ammunition therein, which he took shortly after.
7. And about the same time, hee tooke Teuksbury also, slew in the taking of it Colonell Godfrey, and a Quartermaster Generall, took Lieutenant Colonell Min, prisoner, together with divers other Officers and souldiers and very much prize.
8. In August following, Generall Mi…n… plundering and spoyling the Country not farre from Gloucester, this noble Colonell understanding thereof, went forth and bravely encountred him, and after a hot skirmish, slew the said Generall and other Officers, and about an 100 common souldiers, took prisoners, 1 Colonell, 1 Major, Captaines, 3 Lieutenants, 5 Ensignes, 12 Serjeants▪ and about 300 common souldiers, and much other prize.
9. In September 1644, hee took by a brave Stratagem the Towne and Castle of Monmouth in South Wales. And shortly after bravely beat the Royalists at Be…sley, where hee took the Governour thereof and 10 Commanders, a 160 common souldiers; and all the Ordnance, Armes and Ammunition therein. And upon the Parl. certain intelligence of these this most renowned Colonels famous and Victorious performances▪ both Houses of Parliament conferred and setled upon him and his heyres for ever (as a present encouragement of his fidelity and brave services) 1000. l. a yeere of Sir Iohn Winters estate in Gloucestershire.
10. About the middle of October 1644, this magnanimous Colonell understanding that Sir Iohn Winter▪ that active Papist had again endeavoured to fortifie that considerable passage of Be…ckly or Be…sley, where he had formerly well eudge…d him, he most couragiously set upon him there also again but now with extraordinary hazard of his precious life; for in the midst of the fight, his horse by leaping a ditch, overthrew him to the ground▪ which a Musketier of the enemies party soone perceiving, suddainly gave fire upon him, but by Gods good Providence, he mist his marke, which he also seeing and being somewhat neere him, as soone as he had discharged, hee turn'd the butt end of his Muske… and strook fiercely at this brave Colonell, and with the force of the blow strook off his head-piece (all this being so suddainly done that the Col. had no time to consider the great danger he was in) but now it pleased the Lord (whom it seemes most evidently by this mighty danger & deliverance, the Lord his God reserved for, yet some more great hon. work for his further glory & his Churches good, just as it was though in another kind, with his famous compeere renowned Gen: Skippo…) it now, I say pleased the Lord to give this noble Col. such an unda…ted spirit and renewed courage that he suddainly recovered his feet instātly charged the Musketier, & kill'd him on the place, & very speedily after obtained a most memorable Victory over Sir I. Winter forced this his grand adversary to tumble down asleepe …ill to save his life, but in danger to have broken his neck, took many Commanders, Officers and common souldiers prisoners, slew divers on the place: took 8 barrels of powder, 8 peeces of Ordnance, with many horse aud Armes, and returned home laden with as much honour as rich spoyles and prizes.
11. In December also 1644, this most renowned Colonell did bravely beat the enemies horse which came from Bristoll, about Sedbury in Gloucestershire, taking very many of them prisoners, together with great prizes. In March following 1645, he also soundly beat another party of Bristoll Cavaliers, took Colonell Roberts a great Malignant Royalist of Herefordshire prisoner, and divers other Officers in Armes, and common Souldiers.
12. And about the latter end of May 1645, this our most renowned and undefa…igable active Colonell took the most strong Town of Evesham by a terrible storme, as sharp as short; took in it prisoners, Colonell Robert Legg, the Governour of the Town, Colonell Foster, and Lievtenant Colonell Bellingham, Major Travillian, 13 Captaines, 17 Lievtenants, above 20 inferiour Officers, all the Ordnance, Armes and Ammunition therin, which was very much.
13. About the midst also of Iuly 1645, ever to be honoured Colonell Massey being now, (for all his foresaid brave services, in and about the City of Gloucester) by the Parliament, honoured with the title and place of Major Generall of the Westerne parts of the Kingdome, was He who in the head of his Army strook the first conquering blow, at that brave fight and famous, Victory at Langport, which was wonne through fire and water; in which defeat, which hee (heere) gave the enemy (which indeed, brake the heart of Generall …oring… Forces) he took at least 5 or 600 prisoners, and at least 300 horse. After this also, hee gave the first, most furious and successefull on-set upon Tiverton in Cornewall, which was obtained by a remarkable shot of a Cannon, admirably breaking the Chain of the draw-bridge of that strong Castle, whereby it was taken.
14. And now, at length, the Lord his God, to adde more lustre to the splendour of all his famous performances, and to Crown him with more honour, moved the …arts of his well-affected people to make …oice of him, for a most worthily honou…ble member of the house of Commons in Parliament, yea and to adde yet one more sparkie Diamond of honor unto the Crown of all these his most illustrious Ornaments of honour, the Lord, I say (still manifesting the faithfulnesse of his infallible word of Truth, 1 Sam. 2. 30. Those that honour me, saith the Lord, I will honour…) put into the hearts of our most renowned Parliament, to choose him, now (with his most renowned Colleague in Armes brave Marshall Generall Skippon) to be Leivienant Generall of all their horse in the Kingdome of Ireland. For whom, as for the other my heartiest Prayers are, that the heavenly Lord of Hosts would be a Sun and shield to him also, and to gird him with all honour and renowne, courage, counsell, and good successe▪ unto the compleating of a perfect peace in that Kingdome also. Amen, and Amen.
John Vicars.