The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 06 (of 11)
Thomas Hobbes · en
About the same time, in Wales also, was another insurrection, headed by
Sir Nicholas Keymish, and another under Sir John Owen; so that now all
Wales was in rebellion against the Parliament: and yet all these were
overcome in a month’s time by Cromwell and his officers; but not without
store of bloodshed on both sides.
_B._ I do not much pity the loss of those men, that impute to the King
that which they do upon their own quarrel.
_A._ Presently after this, some of the people of Surrey sent a petition
to the Parliament for a personal treaty between the King and Parliament;
but their messengers were beaten home again by the soldiers that were
quartered about Westminster and the mews. And then the Kentish men
having a like petition to deliver, and seeing how ill it was like to be
received, threw it away and took up arms. They had many gallant
officers, and for general the Earl of Norwich; and increased daily by
apprentices and old disbanded soldiers. Insomuch as the Parliament was
glad to restore to the city their militia, and to keep guards on the
Thames side: and then Fairfax marched towards the enemy.
_B._ And then the Londoners, I think, might easily and suddenly have
mastered, first the Parliament, and next Fairfax his 8,000, and lastly
Cromwell’s army; or at least have given the Scotch army opportunity to
march unfoughten to London.
_A._ It is true: but the city was never good at venturing; nor were they
or the Scots principled to have a King over them, but under them.
Fairfax marching with his 8,000 against the royalists, routed a part of
them at Maidstone; another part were taking in other places in Kent
further off; and the Earl of Norwich with the rest came to Blackheath,
and thence sent to the city to get passage through it, to join with
those which were risen in Essex under Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George
Lisle; which being denied, the greatest part of his Kentish men deserted
him. With the rest, not above 500, he crossed the Thames into the Isle
of Dogs, and so to Bow, and thence to Colchester. Fairfax having notice
of this, crossed the Thames at Gravesend; and overtaking them, besieged
them in Colchester. The town had no defence but a breastwork, and yet
held out, upon hope of the Scotch army to relieve them, the space of two
months. Upon the news of the defeat of the Scots they were forced to
yield. The Earl of Norwich was sent prisoner to London. Sir Charles
Lucas and Sir George Lisle, two loyal and gallant persons, were shot to
death. There was also another little insurrection, headed by the Earl of
Holland, about Kingston; but quickly suppressed, and he himself taken
prisoner.
_B._ How came the Scots to be so soon dispatched?