Parliamentarian Army on the March
Sergeant Nehemiah Wharton

Coventry, 26 August 1642

Saturday I gathered a complete file of my own men about the country, and marched to Sir Alexander Denton's park, who is a malignant fellow, and killed a fat buck, fastened his head upon my halbert, and commanded two of my pikes to bring the body after me to Buckingham, with a guard of musketeers coming thither. With part of it I feasted my captain, and with the rest several lieutenants, ensigns, and sergeants, and had much thanks for my pains.

Monday morning we marched into Warwickshire with about 3000 foot and 400 horse, until we came to Southam. In the way we took two Cavalier spies. This is a very malignant town, both minister and people. We pillaged the minister, and took from him a drum and several arms. This night our soldiers, wearied out, quartered themselves about the town for food and lodging, but before we could eat or drink an alarum cried "Arm, arm, for the enemy is coming," and in half an hour all our soldiers, though dispersed, were cannibals in arms, ready to encounter the enemy, crying out for a dish of Cavaliers to supper. Our horse was quartered about the country, but the enemy came not, whereupon our soldiers cried out to have a breakfast of Cavaliers. We barricaded the town, and at every passage placed our ordnance and watched it all night, our soldiers contented to lie upon hard stones.

Our enemies, consisting of about 800 horse and 300 foot, with ordnance, led by the Earl of Northampton, intended to set upon us before we could gather our companies together, but being ready all night, early in the morning we went to meet them with a few troops of horse and six field pieces, and being on fire to be at them we marched through the corn and got the hill of them, whereupon they played upon us with their ordnances but they came short. Our gunner took their own bullet, sent it to them again, and killed a horse and a man. After we gave them eight shot more, whereupon all their foot companies fled and offered their arms in the towns adjacent for 12 pence a piece.

From thence we marched valiantly after them into Coventry, where the country met us in arms and welcomed us, and gave us good quarter.

Northampton, 13 September 1642

Certain gentlemen of the country informed me that Justice Edmonds, a man of good conversation, was plundered by the base blue coats and bereaved of his very beads, whereupon I immediately divided my men into three squadrons, surrounded them, and forced them to bring their pillage upon their own backs unto the house again: for which service I was welcomed with the best varieties in the house, and had given me a scarlet coat lined with plush, and several excellent books in folio of my own choosing; but returning, a troop of horse met me, pillage me of all, and robbed me of my very sword, for which cause I told them I would either have my sword or die in the field, commanded my men to charge with bullet, and by divisions to fire upon them, which made them with shame return my sword, and it being towards night I returned to Northampton, threatening revenge upon the base troopers. This night and the day following our company by lot watched the south gate, where I searched every horseman of that troop to the skin, took from them a fat buck, a venison pasty ready baked, but lost my own goods.

Sabbath day morning Mr Marshall, that worthy champion of Christ, preached unto us. These with their sermons have already subdued and satisfied more malignant spirits amongst us than a thousand armed men could have done, so that we have great hope of a blessed union.

I received your letter with my mistress' scarf and Mr. Molloyne's hatband, both which came very seasonably, for I had gathered a little money together, and had this day made me a soldier's suit for winter, edged with gold and silver lace. These gifts I am unworthy of. I have nothing to tender you for them but humble and hearty thanks. I will wear them for your sakes, and I hope I shall never stain them but in the blood of a cavalier.

Archaeologia. (1853), XXXV:315.