VPon Saturday the 22^d of October 1642. His Majesty had given order for the summoning of Banbury, and in case of refusall the besieging of it with 4000 foot, and foure piece of Cannon, but that evening intelligence was brought, that the Rebells had a resolution to relieve it; but it was not so certain as to make any change of the former Orders, yet upon Sun­day at three in the morning there came certain intelli­gence that the whole Army of the Rebells were Marching with all expedition thither, and were quar­tered at a Towne called Reynton three miles from Edgehill, whereupon the King gave present order for [Page 2]all His Army both Horse and Foot to March with all expedition to Edghill, being foure miles distant from his nearest quarter, to which Rendevous the Kings Horse came between ten and eleven a clock in the morning, and the Van of the foot came within an hower after, but the Rere (which hapned at that time to be the Lord Lieutenant Generalls Regiment) with the Artillery came not in two houres after. As soon as We came to the top of Edghill which looks upon Keynton We saw the Rebells Army drawing out and setting themselves in Battalia, whereupon the Kings Horse went down the hill and set themselves in order, the foot likewise having command to come down the hill and doe the like; but before that was done and the Kings Artillery come, it was past two in the afternoon.

It being perceived that the Rebells had placed some Musquetiers under a hedge that crost the field, where the Encounter was to be made, that flanked upon Our left wing, there were some of the Kings Dragoniers sent to beat them off, which they very well performed, whereupon all our Army advanced in very good Or­der, the Ordinance of both sides playing very fast, but that of the Rebells began first. The charge began be­tween the two wings of horse, those of the Rebells not standing our charge, a quarter of an hower before they fled; our men having the execution of them for three miles together, the horse of both our Wings routing their foot as well as their horse, and two whole Regi­ments of their foot were absolutely cut off by those of our left Wing, besides those put into disorder by our right. Whiles this was doing, the bodies of the foot [Page 3]met the Kings Regiment of Guard, and the Earle of Lindsies giving the first charge, which was very well disputed a long time, untill the reserve of the Rebells Horse (which had never been charged) charged Our Foot upon the flank, which Our Foot resisted a good while, but at length not being seconded by Our re­serve of Horse, which contrary to order, thinking the day was surely wonne, had followed the execution of the Rebells so farre that they could not come in time to relieve them, they were put into some disor­der, in which the Kings Standard (the Standard-bea­rer being slaine, and the Lord Willougby seeking to relieve his Father, who fell being shot in the Legge, was together with his Father made Prisoner: but the Standard was soon relieved by the Lievtenant of the Lord Iohn Stewards Troope (Captain Smith) being newly returned from the execution of the Rebells. The left side of Our foot being put into disorder all the [...]est gave way, yet those of the right hand were never put into disorder, but, seeing some of the Cannon in danger to be lost, advanced againe and made the place good, the left hand of the Rebells foot coming on a pace to charge them: By this time the right Wing of Our Horse was returned from chasing of the Rebells and were in some confusion, because they came from the execution; but seeing our foot and Cannon in some danger to be lost, by reason that the Rebells Horse and Foot (those Horse which had never been charged) ad­vanced in good order to charge, Ours made a stand & soon railed together, having some Dragoniers with them, and so advancing made the Dragoniers give [Page 4]them a Volley or two of shot which made the Rebells instantly retire. By this time it was▪ grown so dark that our chief Commanders durst no charge for feare of mistaking friends for foes (though it was certain­ly concluded by them all, that if We had had light e­nough but to have given one charge more We had to­tally routed all their Army,) Whereupon both Ar­mies retreated, Ours in such order that We not only brought off our own Cannon, but foure of the Rebells, We retiring up to the top of the Hill from whence We came because of the advantage of the place, and theirs to the Village where they had been quartered the night before.

The King with the whole body of the Horse, and those of the foot which were not broken, quartered upon and on the side of the Hill all night, and in the morning as soon as it was day, drew halfe the body of the Horse into Battalia at the foot of the hill, and the rest of the Horse and the foot upon the top of the Hill where the Standard was placed, and having notice that three of the Rebells Cannon were left halfe way be­tween Vs and their Quarter, sent out a body of Horse and drew them off, they not so much as offering to re­lieve them: so both Armies, facing one another all day, retired at night to their former quarters.

The Rebells in this Battaile lost above 70 Colours of Cornets and Ensignes, Wee sixteen Ensignes, but not one Cornet; but our Horse relieved not only the Standard but diverse of our own Ensignes.

For the slain of both sides the number is uncertain, yet it is most certain that wee kill'd five for one. It is [Page 5]true that their chief Officers having fleeter horses then▪ ours, not so many of their, Officers of Foot as ours were slain and taken Prisoners to our knowledge as yet, but We lost no Officer of horse excepting the Lord Aubigny.

The next day after the Battell, the Earle of Ess [...]x finding his Army extreamly weakned and disheart [...]ed by the great blow they had received by His Majesties forces withdrew himselfe to Warwick Castle, and the same night, the remainer of his Forces went also pri­vately thither much distracted, whereof Prince Rupert having notice the next morning pursued them, but they were all got into Warwick or dispersed before He could overtake them: but His Highnesse took twenty five Waggons & Carriages of the Rebells laden with Am­munition Medicaments and other baggage whereof He brought away part and fired the rest.

This sudden returning back of the Rebells to War­wick is not only a sure argument of the weaknesse of their Army, but hath exceedingly disheartned all the Country which adhered to them and were before (upon the false rumor that the Kings forces were de­feated) ready to have risen and falne upon His Maje­sties forces.

The 26, His Majesty by Clarenceux King of Armes sent a Summon to Banbury which being not thereupon yeelded, His Majesty the next day drew out part of His Army with some Ordinance against the said Towne, upon the approach of which the Rebells forces (being the Earle of Peterboroughs Regiment which were in the Town to the number of 600) came out, laid down [Page 6]their Armes and asked His Majesties pardon, and im­mediatly the Towne was rendred up: upon which His Majesty sent some of His principall Officers to discover and bring away all such Armes [...]d Ammu­nition as were found in the Towne, and to take up up­on Tickets all Wollen cloath, stockings, shooes, and victualls for the accommodation of His souldiers for­bidding all manner of plundring, and permitting only one Regiment to enter and re­main in the Town that night.