Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 24.djvu/274

Hampden , and was actually on the march to cut off their retreat when Essex recalled him (,pp. 187, 192; The Scots Design Discovered, 1654, p. 66). In December a pamphlet was published containing 'an account of Hampden's capture of Reading, but, though accepted by Lord Nugent and Mr. Forster, this is simply one of the fictitious victories so frequent during the first years of the war (A True Relation of the Proceedings of his Excellency the Earl of Essex, with the taking of Reading by Col. Hampden and Col. Hurry). In the same fashion 'Mercurius Aulicus' for 27 Jan. and 29 Jan. 1643 describes Hampden as commanding an attack on the royalist forces at Brill, whereas Hampden's letters prove that he was not present (Carte MSS., Bodleian Library, ciii. 121, 123).

During the winter of 1642-3 Hampden's activity was rather political than military. All his energy and influence were employed to keep his party together and to prevent the sacrifice of their cause by the conclusion of a peace on unsatisfactory terms. 'Without question,' says Clarendon, 'when he first drew his sword he threw away the scabbard; for he passionately opposed the overture made by the king for a treaty from Nottingham, and as eminently any expedients that might have produced an accommodation in that at Oxford; and was principally relied upon to prevent any infusions which might be made into the Earl of Essex towards peace, or to render them ineffectual if they were made' (Rebellion, vii. 84). D'Ewes, who represented the peace party in the commons, describes Hampden as one of the 'fiery spirits, who, accounting their own condition desperate, did not care though they hazarded the whole kingdom to save themselves.' He also states that when the proposed articles of peace were discussed, on 18 March 1643, Hampden and others purposely absented themselves, 'because they easily foresaw it would not lie in their power to stop the said articles' (, pp. 540-3). About the same time a pasquinade by Denham was published, under the title of 'Mr. Hampden's Speech on the London Petition for Peace' (broadside in the British Museum, dated by Thomason 23 March; reprinted in The Rump, 1662, p. 9).

On the conclusion of the abortive negotiations at Oxford, Hampden was, as usual, zealous for decisive action. 'Mr. Hampden,' says Clarendon, 'and all they who desired still to strike at the root very earnestly insisted' that Essex should attack Oxford rather than Reading, and he expresses the opinion that such a stroke would have put the king's affairs into great confusion (Rebellion, vii. 38). It was reported at Oxford that Hampden was to supersede Essex as general, but such a change was never seriously contemplated, nor did his own disapproval of the strategy of Essex in any way diminish Hampden's loyalty to his leader, He took part in the siege of Reading, and the letter in which he announced its capture has been preserved (Tanner MSS. lxii. 85; An exact Relation of the delivering up of Reading, as it was sent in a Letter to the Speaker by Sir P. Stapleton, John Hampden, &c., 4to, 1643). Another letter, addressed to Sir Thomas Barrington, exhorting him to stir up the county of Essex to reinforce the army, is Hampden's last recorded utterance (, Civil War, i. 179). Early in June Essex at last advanced on Oxford, and quartered his troops in the district round Thame. They were widely scattered, and Prince Rupert, seizing the opportunity, sallied from Oxford with a body of about one thousand horse, and fell on the parliamentarian quarters at Postcombe and Chinnor. A few troops, hastily collected, pursued him, and endeavoured to hinder his retreat to Oxford, but Rupert turned and routed them at Chalgrove Field on 18 June. In this skirmish Hampden was mortally wounded. 'Col. Hampden,' says the despatch of Essex to the parliament, 'put himself in Captain Cross's troop, where he charged with much courage, and was unfortunately shot through the shoulder' (A Letter from his Excellency Robert, Earl of Essex, relating the true State of the late Skirmish at Chinnor; see also His Highness Prince Rupert's late beating up the Rebels' Quarters at Postcombe and Chinnor, and his Victory in Chalgrove Field, June 18, 1643, Oxford, 1643; A true Relation of a great Fight between the King's Forces and the Parliament's at Chinnor, 1643). He was observed 'to ride off the field before the action was done, which he never used to do, with his head hanging down, and resting his hands upon the neck of his horse' (, vii. 79).

Round Hampden's last days a number of legends have gathered and animated controversies have taken place. The precise nature of the wound which caused his death has been much discussed (Notes and Queries, 1st ser. viii. 647, xii. 271). All contemporary accounts agree in ascribing his death to the consequences of a bullet-wound in the shoulder, but in the next century a report spread that it was due to the explosion of an overloaded pistol which shattered his hand. This story, said to have been related by his son-in-law, Sir Robert Pye, found its way into Echard's 'History' (App. 1720) and Seward's 