Historic%20Yorkshire

THE BATTLE OF MARSTON MOOR. 115
which he was least expectedby either friend or enemy.
The disappointment of the Parliamentarians may be
better imagined whenit is stated that dissensionin their
camp needed at this time a great conflict to unite them,
and to restore confidence. The advice of the Scottish
contingent in this instance prevailed,and the Roundhead
army withdrew in the direction of Tadcaster to await a
better opportunity of giving battle. But the headstrong
Prince, who never won an advantage by his skill and
courage but he lostit byhisrashness, determined,in spite
ofthe strongremonstrances of the Marquis of Newcastle,
to pursue the Parliamentarians at once and measurehis
strength against theirs. Newcastle, who was expecting
in a few days the reinforcement of 5,000 men under
Clavering, threwup his commissionin disgust, though he
entered the service of Rupert as a volunteer. The day
after the Prince had entered the city of York, the 2nd
July,he left it to fight the Parliamentarians. These, on
that day, were on their way to Tadcaster, and the rear
guard were nearly overtaken by the van which Prince
Rupert, with skilful rapidity,had thrown forward. This
rearguard hadpassed the Moorof Hessay,and had a good
position on the Moor, known as Marston Field, which
it was thought desirableto retain. The order was given
to the troops to return, the enemy was held in check, and
finally the whole army was put into position on Marston
Field, which was then occupied by a crop of oats nearly
ready for the sickle. The completest preparations were
madeby each side; the Parliamentarians, to distinguish
their friends in the forthcoming fight, wore white scarves,
or paper bands,ontheir hats;the Royalists beingwithout
any distinguishing badge. The preparations occupied
until the middle of the second week in July, previous to
which, however, a constant interchange of artillery fire
had beenmade. At last the greatbattle commenced. It
is stated by some that a cannon ball struck the nephew
of Cromwell,and so enragedthe iron chief that he ordered
a charge. Other accounts say that the enemy had