whereon a fierce battle was bravely fought on either side.
Nothing could be more valiant than the conduct of the young king,
who showed himself wholly regardless of his life in the fierce
struggle for his rights. Twice was his horse shot under him; but
increasing danger seemed but to animate him to greater daring.
So bravely did his army fight likewise, that the Republicans at
first gave way before them. For upwards of four hours the
engagement raged with great fierceness. Cromwell subsequently
declared it was "as stiff a contest as he had ever seen," and
his experience was great. Success seemed now to crown the
Royalists, anon to favour the Roundheads. The great crisis of
the day at length arrived: the Cromwellians began to waver and
give way just as the Royalist cavalry had expended their
ammunition; the king had still three thousand Scotch cavalry in
the rear under the command of Leslie, who had not yet been called
into action. He therefore ordered them to advance; but, to his
horror, not one of these men, who had looked on as passive
spectators, made a movement. In this hour, when victory or
defeat hung upon a thread the Scots ignominiously failed their
king. Charles instantly saw he was undone. The English cavalry
continued to fight bravely, in their desperation using the butt
ends of their muskets; but they were gradually compelled to give
way before the enemy, who, seeing their condition, had renewed
the attack. The Royalists therefore fell back into the city.
When the king re-entered Worcester he saw before him a scene of
the most disastrous confusion. Royalists and Republicans
encountered and fought each other in every thoroughfare; the air
was filled with the report of muskets, the imprecations of
soldiers, the groans of wounded men, and the shrieks of women.
The streets ran red with blood. At such a sight his heart sank