Page:Life of Oliver Cromwell.pdf/9

 differences between the King and his Parliament, which both sides now found could alone be decided by the sword. Accordingly, each actively proceeded to bring the quarrel to an issue. The king, collecting some forces, erected his royal standard at Nottingham; and, by this act, announced to the world the commencement of anarchy and civil war in his dominions.

Soon after this open rupture had taken place between King and Parliament, Cromwell obtained a commission from the latter to raise a troop of horse, which he speedily accomplished in his own county or Huntingdon, where he was extremely popular. He first served under Sir Philips Stappleton, and was in the battle of Edge-hill, fought between the royalists and the forces of the Parliament. During this short period of service, Cromwell, though before wholly unacquainted with arm, displayed an intrepidity, coolness, and natural military genius, which procured him instant and rapid promotion. In 1643, he obtained a colonel's commission, and immediately after was appointed lieutenant-General to the Earl of Manchester, under whom he was present at the battle of Marston Moor, where he was wounded.

As this battle was one of the most obstinate and sanguinary which occurred during the civil war, a short account of it will not be uninteresting. The Parliamentary generals having raised the siege of York, with which they been for some time occupied, drew up their forces on Marston Moor, to give battle of the royalists under prince Rupert, the king's nephew. This prince, perceiving the intention in the enemy, immediately issued orders for little and let out his army to the field. The numbers on each side were nearly equal, amounting all to 50,000 men The Prince