CHAPTER VIII.

The defense of an outpost.

The effect of the fresh air and of cordials poured down their throats soon restored the vigor to Prince Rupert and Harry Furness.  They were still weak, for the great effort which nature had made to resist the force of the heat during those long hours had taxed their constitutions to the utmost.

Lady Sidmouth was rejoiced indeed to find them alive, for she had made sure that they were lost.  It was not until she had been placed in a room strongly barred, and under a guard at Storton, that she perceived the light arising from her residence, and guessed that the men of the Commons, unable to find the hiding-place of Prince Rupert, had set it on fire.  Then she had knocked loudly at the door; but the sentry had given no answer either to that or to her entreaties for a hearing.  She soon, indeed, desisted from her efforts, for the fire which blazed up speedily convinced her that all hope was gone.  When Jacob and the Royalists arrived, driving out the small remnant of the Roundheads who remained in the village, he had found Lady Sidmouth and her daughter bathed in tears, under the belief that their guests had perished in the old house that they loved so well.  It was with no hope that they had mounted on the instant, and ridden at full gallop to the castle, and it was not until they saw that that wall was still standing that even the slightest hope entered their minds.  Even then it appeared incredible that any one could be alive, and the shout from the loophole had surprised almost as much as it had delighted them.

In the course of three or four hours, refreshed and strengthened by a hearty breakfast and draughts of burgundy, the prince and Harry mounted their horses.  Lady Sidmouth determined to remain for a few days at one of her tenant’s houses, and then to go quietly on to Oxford—­for by this time the main army of Essex was rapidly moving east, and the country would soon be secure for her passage.  The prince and Harry rode at full speed to rejoin the army.  That night, by riding late, they reached it.  They found that Essex had, in his retreat, surprised Cirencester and had passed Farringdon.

The prince, with five thousand horse, started, and marching with great rapidity, got between Reading and the enemy, and, near Newbury, fell upon the Parliament horse.  For several hours sharp skirmishing went on, and Essex was forced to halt his army at Hungerford.  This gave time for the king, who was marching at the head of his infantry, to come up.  The royal army occupied Newbury, and by the position they had taken up, were now between the Roundheads and London.

On the morning of the 20th of September the outpost of each force became engaged, and the battle soon raged along the whole line.  It was to some extent a repetition of the battle of Edgehill.  Prince Rupert, with his Cavaliers, swept away the horse of the enemy; but the pikemen of London, who now first were tried in combat, forced back the infantry of the king.  Prince Rupert, returning from the pursuit, charged them with all his cavalry; but so sharply did they shoot, and so steadily did the line of pikes hold together, that the horse could make no impression upon them.