Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1903-12-26
CHAPTER v.
Sheatbed Swords.

| This long winter had been oh0 vi
great suffering to Gen. CromWell.
After making himself master Oh 'he
whole country south of Forth ana
Clyde, he had a severe Illness ana
lay often at the point of death. lie
took the field in June, throwing the
main part of his army into Fire, In
order to cut off the enemy's yictual.
This move forced the hand OF CHARLES
Stuart. His army was in mutiny Tor
want OF provisions, the North country
was already drained, he burst not risk
battle-but the road into England
was clear.
I Cromwell himself had gone north
ward to Perth, and on the second OF
August he took possession OF that
city, but while entered II was told
that Charles Stuart, with fourteen
thousand men, had suddenly left
Stirling and was marching towards
England. Charles had taken the west
ern road by Carlisle, and 1t was
thought he would make for London.
He went at flying speed past York.
Nottingham, Coventry, until he reached
the borders of Shropshire. At Shrews-
bury he found the gates shut against
him and his men were 80 disheartened
that the king turned westward to
Worcester, city reported to'oe loyal,
where he was received with every
show of honor and affection.
Meanwhile Cromwell was following
Charles with a steady swiftness that
had something fateful In 1t. This was
to be the last battle of the civil war,
and Cromwell knew 1t. There was in
his soul, even at Perth. the assurance
of victory, and as he passeS through
the towns and villages OF England.
men would not be restrained. They
threw down the sickle and the spade
in the field, the hammer In the forge,
the plane at the bench, and catching
hold of the stirrups Of the riders, ran
with them to the halting place. So.
with his ten thousand troops aug
mented to thirty thousand, he reached
Warwick, and making his headquar-
tiers at the pretty vill)ge of Keynton
near by. he gave hfeen time to
draw breath and called a council Of
war.
Cromwell sat at the upper end of a
long table. A rough map of the coun-
try around Worcester lay before him.
and Harrison, Lambert Israel Swaff.
ham and Lord Evesham were his COM
panions. There were two tallow can.
dies on the table, and their light
shone on the face of Cromwell. At
that moment it was full of melan-
choly, but he saw in af instant the
entrance of Neville, and with an al
most imperceptible movement COM
manded his approach.
Neville laid the letters of which he
was the bearer before Cromwell, and
his large hand Immediately covered
them. rs all well?" he asked-and
reading the answer in the youths
face, added, 81 thank God! What then
of the city,"
Its panic is beyond describing" an
swered Neville. Parliament is beside
itself. But London is manifestly with
the Commonwealth, and every man In
it is looking to you and to the army
for protection. Some, inc sed, l met
who had lost heart and who thought
it better that Charles Stuart should
come back than that England should
become graveyard fighting him."
"Such men are sucked slaves" said
Lambert. 81 would hang them with
out word or warrant for It,"
"Yea," said Cromwell. for Freedom
is dead in them. From here there are
two courses open to us, a right one
and a wrong one. What say you
LAMBERT"
81 say it were well to turn our noses
to London, and to let the rogues know
we are coming"
What is your thought, Harrison?'
Worcester is well defended" he an
swered musingly. ut has Wales be
hind IL. We cannot fight Charles
Stuart till we compass the city, and u
do that we must be on both sides Of
the river"
Fight him." said Lord Evesham
better now than later"
Fight him That, tell you, is my
mind also" said Cromwell striking the
table with his clinched hand. "Somt
may Judge otherwise, but think while
we hold Charles Stuart safe. Londor
is safe also. God has chosen this
battlefield for us, as He chose Dunbar
But there must be no slackness. The
work is to be thorough, and not t
do over again. The nation wishes 4
so, | know it. The plain truth is
we will march straight on Worcester
we will cut off Charles Stuart from
all hope of London; we win fight hin
from both sides of the river, anC
bring this matter Of the Stuarts to al
end"
ITO be continued)