action, but were prompt to make a counter-move, Accordingly,
additional troops were levied, London was left to be defended by
volunteers, and Cromwell, heading an army of thirty-four thousand
men, marched against the Royalists. On the 28th of August, they
drew near Worcester, and on the 3rd of September the battle was
fought which will remain for ever famous in the annals of civil
war. On the morning of that day, the king, ascending the
cathedral tower, saw the enemy's forces advancing towards
Worcester: before reaching the city, it was necessary they
should cross the Severn, and, in order to prevent this if
possible, Charles hurried down and directed that some of his
troops, under the command of Montgomery, should defend Powick
Bridge; whilst he stationed others under Colonel Pitscottie lower
down, at a point of the river towards which the Republicans were
marching with pontoons, by means of which they intended to cross.
The young king, hopeful of victory and full of enthusiasm, rode
speedily out at the head of his troops and placed them at their
various stations. Scarcely had he done so, when he became aware
that the main body of the enemy had opened an artillery fire on
Fort Royal, which guarded the city on the south-east side. He
therefore galloped back in hot haste to headquarters, and
reconnoitred the advanced posts eastward of the city, in full
front of the enemy's fire. Meanwhile Montgomery, having
exhausted his ammunition, was obliged to retreat in disorder from
Powick Bridge, followed by the Cromwellians. The king now
courageously resolved to attack the enemy's camp at Perry Wood,
which lay south-east of Worcester. Accordingly he marched out
with the flower of his Highland infantry and the English
cavaliers, led by the Dukes of Hamilton and Buckingham.
Cromwell, seeing this, hastened to intercept the king's march,