Englands Worthies, Waller
Sir William Waller Knight, Sargeant Maior Generall▪ of y• Parliaments Army… & one of the Members▪ of y• Hono:bl• House of Commons▪ 1…48.
THis most magnanimous valiant and victorious brave Commander in arms, Sir William Waller▪ one of the most impreg…ble offensive and defensive Wals of this Kingdome under God, did in the yeere 1642, (at the beginning of our imtestine and most uncivill Civill broyles) 1, take the strong and considerable Town of Portsmouth, and Sousey-Castle, with all the Ordnance, Armes and Ammunition in them, which was very much.
2. He took also Farnhans Castle, with divers eminent prisoners in it, and all the Ordnance, Armes and Ammunition therein; together with about 40000. l. in Money and Plate, beside singular good pillage for his souldiers, which he gave them freely.
3. He also, with brave Colonell Browne, soundly beat the Lord Grandison neere Winchester, took him prisoner, together with his Lievtenant Colonell, Serjeant Major Willis▪ and betweene 40 and 50 other Commanders and Gentlemen of quality, about 600 horse▪ 200 Dragoones, 600 Arms and great store of other pillage, and tooke the City of Winchester also at the same time.
4. He took Arundell Castle in Sussex also… by storm, and all the Armes and Ammunition therein.
5. He took the City of Chichester likewise, with Sir Edward Ford, high Sheriff… of that County for the King, a most desperate Malignant, Bishop King, as bad as the worst, Sir Iohn Morley, together with many prime Commanders, and at least 60 other eminent Officers, very many brave horses, about 400 excellent Dragoones, with 3 or 400 foot souldiers.
6. And in the yeere 1643, did admirable brave service to the Parliament in the West by a flying Army of horse, about Salisbury, VVilishire, and Dorsetshire, to the great terrour of the enemies where ever he came.
7. Hee also took Malmsbury by storme, and Stratagem, and took therein at least 300 prisoners, besies 3 Colonels, 1 Lievtenant Colonell, 1 Serjeant Major, 6 Captaines, 6 Lievtenants, 6 Ensignes, 1 Cornet, 4 Quartermasters, and great store of Armes and Ammonition.
8. Hee also, most undantedly (with the help of renowned Colonell Mass…y then Governour of Gloucester) set upon 2000 of the Kings Welsh forces in the Forrest of Deaue under the Command of the Lord Herbers, beat them out of their trenches, slew about 600 on the place, took 4000 of them prisoners, took 6 Troopes of as brave horse as all England could shew; almost all their Armes and Ammunition, together with 5 peeces of Ordnance.
9. And immediately after this, advan…cing toward Teuksbury (so terrible was th… very name of Sir William Waller, that) th… whole Garrison of Sir William Russell hig… Sheriffe of Worcester lying (then) ther… and hearing of his approach fled away wi… onelyonly 2 Drakes toward Worcester, and le… the said Town to noble Sir Williams peace…able possession.
10. After all this hee most Victorious… marched with his forces into Wales, too… 3 Troopes of horse compleatly armed fro… Prince Maurice; And took High…am, an… took therein at least 1444 common souldiers prisoners well armed, and at least 15… Commanders and Gentlemen of quality.
11. He also as undantedly as Victoriousl… marched forward in Wales, and took th… Townes of Newnham, Ross-bridge, Mon…uth, and Chepstow, with all the Arme… and Ammunition in them all.
12. This most resolute and renowne… brave Commander, took also the Town… or City of Hereford, and in it at least 2… persons of quality; the chiefe whereof we… the Lord Se…damore and his Son, Sir Wal…ter Py…, Sir William Crofts, and Sir Richar… Cave, with divers other gallants of worth and quality; and upon at least 2000 Arms.
13. Hee took also the Town of Lemster about 12 miles from Hereford, a most Malignant Towne but very rich and of great consequence to the Parliament; with all the Armes, Ammunition, and rich pillage therein.
14. He soundly beat Sir Ralph Hoptons forces in the West, between Glasenbury and Wells, recovered all the losse which Colonel Popham and Colonell Stroud had received by them; slew about 250 of the enemies on the place and chase of them, sorely wounded Prince Maurice himselfe (who was in the fight) and beat him twice off from his horse, and very narrowly escaped from being taken prisoner, tooke divers Gentlemen of worth and quality prisoners, and so retreated with much honour to Bath, where Sir Williams quarters were.
15. He most admirably beat Hopton in the West, at that famous sight at Tugg-hill eere Sherborne, and Marshfield, where was slain the Marquesse of Hartfords Son, Sir Bevill Greenvill of Greenefield, 2 Lievtenant Colonels, 1 Serjeant Major, 6 Captaines, and other Commanders and Officers, above 200 common souldiers, and 300 more mortally wounded.
16. He took the Lord Saulton, a Scottish Popish Prisoner, on the coast of Sussex, then landed from France with 4000. l. and divers letters of great importance, which he sent to the Parliament.
17. He again most bravely beat Sir Ralph Hopton and the Lord Craford at Alton in Surrey, totally routed their whole Army, by Hoptons own confession in a letter of his sent to noble Sir. William, wherein were slain, above 40 of the enemies, among whom was Colonell Bowles; he took 700 prisoners, besides 100 in a Barne and a 100 more in the field, whereof at least 500 took the Covenant and served the Parliament, his prizes taken, were neere 200 horse, and 1000 Armes, among his prisoners, were one Colonell, one Lievtenant Colonell, one Major, 13 Captaines, 3 Cornets, and much other rich prizes, and took the Town of A…lto… also, with all the Armes and Ammunition therein.
18. He bravely besieged and too… again … Castle in Sussex, wherin he took prisoners, Sir William Ford high Sheriffe of Sussex a most desperate Malignant, Sir Edward Bishop, Colonell Ba…fi…ld, with other eminent Gentlemen of quality, above 50 Reformad…es, 1200 prisoners with their Armes, divers expert Engineeres, and at …000. l. in money and Plate, with great store of other rich prize and pillage. He also here took a brave Dunkirk ship of great burthen wherein were 20 brave bra…se peeces of Ordnance, 100 barrels of powder, 2000 Armes, great store of Ammunition divers Commanders, and other persons of quality, … a great quantity of Linnen cloth to a …eat value.
19. He also with the help of renowned …ajor Generall Browne, terribly beat the …ngs forces at Alsford, under the Comand Sir Ralph Hopton where the L. Iohn Bro…er to the Duke of Lenox was slain, and at …st 500 more, and divers both Knights … Gentl. of great quality taken prisoners, … after all this took in Winchester againe. …. He soundly beat the enemy at Bazing…se, took divers Officers and Comman…s prisoners, and at least 1000 sheep and … …at Cattel, & a considerable sum of mo…hich they had gathered in the Country. He pursued the K. in his flight (in Iun… …4) out of Oxford, and frighted him▪ and his followers in a long chase; and took Shudley Castle by storme, in the way; where hee tooke prisoners, Sir William Mo…ton, Lievtenant Colonell Sayer, 2 Serjeant Majors, 4 Captaines, 7 Lievtenants, and divers other Officers and Commanders, 289 common souldiers, 80 horse, two Drakes; many slain in the assault on the enemies side, but not one of Sir Williams, a rare mercy and singuler preservation, and thus this most renowned generous Generall went on Conquering and to Conquer.