rse of these wars; nor were the forces on each side much
different in number. Fifty thousand British troops were led to mutual
slaughter; and the victory seemed long undecided between them. Prince
Rupert, who commanded the right wing of the royalists, was opposed to
Cromwell,[***] who conducted the choice troops of the parliament, inured
to danger under that determined leader, animated by zeal, and confirmed
by the most rigid discipline.

* Life of the Duke of Newcastle, p. 40.

** Clarendon, vol. v. p. 506.

*** Rush, part iii. vol. ii. p. 633.

After a short combat, the cavalry of the royalists gave way; and such
of the infantry as stood next them were likewise borne down and put to
flight. Newcastle's regiment alone, resolute to conquer or to perish,
obstinately kept their ground, and maintained, by their dead bodies, the
same order in which they had at first been ranged. In the other wing,
Sir Thomas Fairfax and Colonel Lambert, with some troops, broke through
the royalists; and, transported by the ardor of pursuit, soon reached
their victorious friends, engaged also in pursuit of the enemy. But
after that tempest was past, Lucas, who commanded the royalists in this
wing, restoring order to his broken forces, made a furious attack on the
parliamentary cavalry, threw them into disorder, pushed them upon their
own infantry, and put that whole wing to rout. When ready to seize on
their carriages and baggage, he perceived Cromwell, who was now returned
from pursuit of the other wing. Both sides were not a little surprised
to find that they must again renew the combat for that victory which
each of them thought they had already obtained. The front of the battle
was now exactly counterchanged; and each army occupied the ground which
had been possessed by the enemy at the beginning of the day. This second
battle was equally furious and desperate with the first: but after the
utmost efforts of courage by both parties, victory wholly turned to the
side of the parliament. The prince's train of artillery was taken; and
his whole army pushed off the field of battle.[*]

* Rush. vol. vi. p. 632. Whitlocke, p. 89.

This event was in itself a mighty blow to the king; but proved more
fatal in its consequences. The marquis of Newcastle was entirely lost
to the royal cause. That nobleman the ornament of the court and of
his order, had been engaged, contrary to the natural bent of his
disposition, into these