Page:A century of Birmingham life- or, A chronicle of local events, from 1741 to 1841 (IA centuryofbirming01lang).pdf/32

 the king with 2,000 men to open a communication between Oxford and York, in which attempt he was vigorously opposed by our townsmen. The Prince halted on a piece of open country, which obtained in consequence, and, although now crowded with houses, still bears the name of Camp Hill. From this Camp, on Easter Monday, April 3, 1643, the Prince assaulted, sacked, and burned the town; and although the veracious historian of the "Rebellion" dismisses the subject in a few sentences, we have fortunately some contemporaneous publications which give a detailed account of this very important event in our history. Within a month of its occurrence three reports were published, two of which give a rather minute description of the scenes which displayed what is called in one of the tracts, "Rupert's Burning Love to England." The first of these is called "A Letter, written from Walsall by a worthy Gentleman to his friend in Oxford concerning Birmingham ;" and bears the date "Walshall, April 5, 1643," so that it was written immediately after the attack upon the town. It is evidently from the pen of a Cavalier. The other two are as undoubtedly the productions of zealous Roundheads. Their titles are among the curiosities of literature. One is called:—

A true relation of Prince Rupert's barbarous cruelty against the Towne of Biminghame, to which place, on Monday, April 3, 1643, he marcht with 20o00 horse and foot, 4 Drakes and 2 Sakers; who, after two hours fight, being twice beaten off by the Townsmen (in all but 140 Musqueteers,) he entered, put divers to the sword, and burnt about 80 houses to ashes, suffering no man to carry away his goads, or quench the fire, and making no difference between friend or foe; yet, by God's providence, the greatest loss fell on the malignants of the Town. And of the Cavaliers were slaine divers chief Commanders, and men of great quality, amongst whom was the Earl of Denbigh, the Lord John Stuart, and, as themselves report, the Lord Digby. London Printed for John Wright, in the Old Baily, April 12, 1643."

The other partakes of the character of an official document, as it was "published at the request of the Committee at Coventry." I quote the full title :—

"Prince Rupert's burning love to England, discovered in Birmingham's flames; or, a more exact and true narration of Birmingham's Calamities under the barbarous and inhumane Cruelties of Prince Rupert's forces. Wherein is related how that famous and