escape. The

shut up, few could make their army at length marching away for a time, the poor inhabitants of death (liker than life) were now laid open to the enemy; what remained but that they should fall a prey to the bloody sword of those villains?

When I was about fourteen years of age, my Mother put me apprentice to a godly man at Horton, near to the town of Bradford, where I was to be seven years; but the civil wars broke out in 1642, and many godly men in the town and parish, took up arms for the defence of the parliament, which was then in being. My Master was a man of good spirit, had a plentiful estate, and was an active man about the town; he engaged likewise in the business; and though the King's party came sundry times to take the town of Bradford, yet they were for a long time happily repulsed.

But in the year 1643 as I remember, came the Earl of Newcastle with a strong army to Wakefield, and lay there.

But methinks, I should here give a hint by the way, how that civil war, that shed so much English blood, was brought about. It was in the reign of King Charles I, who did, by the constant solicitation of the Queen, she being a fast friend to Rome, encourage swarms of Jesuits, and evil affected Counsellors, Bishops and men of great power, to lay their heads together to destroy Christ's interest in the nation, and cut off the being, yea, and name of what is dear to God and his people; nay and even the lives of all protestants, and to

enslave this land to Rome, the mother of harlots, whose kingdom is established by blood. These things were so plain, that he must be blind that did not see them; the King dissolved the parliament from time to time, when they did but touch upon these things (as some of the bold, seeing men did, year after year;) so that now there seemed to be no help nor hope left for England, but that it must shortly be destroyed, as Ireland was already, by a bloody rebellion..

Now about this time, God put it into the hearts of the good people of Scotland, to endeavour to remedy those evils, well foreseeing the ruin that was hastening upon England; and knowing it could not go well with them if it were destroyed; they came at two different times to Newcastle and Berwick upon Tweed with considerable armies, with the design to prevent our ruin.

Upon which an army was raised in England to go and fight them; and upon what terms the Scots returned home the first time I cannot tell; but however, they came again shortly; and the King in person at the head of a great army went to meet them, together with a great number of Noblemen, Bishops and Gentlemen "in great fury, with a design to fight with, and suppress them.

What they propounded and required, I know not, but I remember it was said, the English army was not fully resolved to engage. So a parley was proposed and -accepted, to see if peace could be brought about, and if the Scots could be sent quietly home again.

After strong debates it was concluded, that the Scots should deliver up the towns they were possessed of, -and march their army back again in a peaceable manner and then disband it.

One of the conditions on the King's party was, that he would in a few days issue out his writs for a free parliament, which should consider of, and in an honourable manner, conclude all matters of difference and dissatisfaction, especially matters relating to misdemeanor or ill government, by any evil counsellors or ministers of state. The King according to this condition did call a parliament. They had not sat long before they presented an humble address, that seeing his majesty had given his subjects some discontent, by his so often dissolving of parliament, they begged he would be pleased to sign an act, that they might sit as long as they pleased without dissolution; and this he granted: and therein, (as God ordered it) they got the staff out of his hand, which he could never get again.

Having got this power, they began to call some evil 'counsellors into question, still laying all mis-government at their door. They clapped up some wicked Bishops, and Deacons, tried them for their lives, and executed them; and likewise some great states-men. I remember one above the rest, called Lord Wentworth,* who was said to be one of the greatest politicians in England. It was thought he had but hard measures, being as was said, guilty of many crimes, yet no one of them alone would cut him off; therefore they made an act, that

Earl of Strafford.

two such crimes put together, should be high treason; and thus they made him liable to the stroke of death. But then the difficulty was to get his execution signed, which the King long refused to do; but being resolved to have him down, they pressed the King, till he was pleased to sign it, though he repented it to his dying day.

There were many things in evil case, and the house acted so as did not please the King. But there were some wise, bold and resolute men, who now feared no colours, and they had a great influence upon the rest of the house of commons. The King was not unacquainted with this, and it got out that he intended to go to the house with a guard, and apprehend them; which thing afterwards he did, but when he got there, he found them not, for the birds had taken wing, and flown. By these means the quarrel between the King and parliament increased every day. The King being grieved that things went so contrary to his designs, and the design of his bosom friends, withdrew, and resided at Hampton Court.

At length the King set out with great swarms of Gentry, Clergy, Jesuits and wicked Papists, who were ill affected and came to York; but had not been there long before the Yorkshire gentlemen and others, resolved to go and petition him to return unto the parliament, which they did; but seeing such swarms of bloody Papists riding about in arms, and swearing like so many Devils, what they would do, the petitioners being unarmed men, they withdrew, and got away, being, yet more fearful of the end of these things.

Next the King went to Hull, and when he came there, the gates were shut against him; the parliament baving sent Sir J. Hotham to be governor. The King called for him, and commanded him to open the gates; but Hotham kneeling upon the wall, told his Majesty, he could not do that, and be faithful to the parliament, who had commissioned him to the contrary.

So his majesty in a rage, marched away his army to Nottingham, and there he set up his standard, and declared war against the parliament, which occasioned them to take up arms in order to a defensive war; for now no way was left but to decide the difference by sword. And in this war it fell out, that fathers and sons. and many brothers fought one against another, till many families were quite ruined. In this war, was poor Bradford sadly engaged. The generality of the town, and parish and the towns about, stood for the parliament and it was made a little garrison; and though it was not easy to keep it, yet they got bulwarks about it, and the Inhabitants were firm to the cause, and to one an

other, to the very taking of the town. Upon the approach of the enemies to invade the town, they sent men to Bingley, Halifax and the small towns about, who came with all speed, with such arms as they had, and did much service.

The enemies lay at Leeds and Wakefield and at Pontefract Castle and so were near to Bradford.

I remember one day they came to a Hill called Undercliff, brought two great guns with them and planted themagainst the steeple,where we had men with several