t decisive. In
other rencounters, he obtained some inconsiderable advantages. But the
chief benefit which resulted from his enterprises was, the establishing
of the king's authority in all the northern provinces.

In another part of the kingdom, Lord Broke was killed by a shot while he
was taking possession of Lichfield for the parliament.[*] After a sharp
combat near Stafford, between the earl of Northampton and Sir John Gell,
the former, who commanded the king's forces, was killed while he fought
with great valor; and his forces, discouraged by his death, though they
had obtained the advantage in the action, retreated into the town of
Stafford.[**]

Sir William Waller began to distinguish himself among the generals of
the parliament. Active and indefatigable in his operations, rapid and
enterprising, he was fitted by his genius to the nature of the
war; which, being managed by raw troops, conducted by unexperienced
commanders, afforded success to every bold and sudden undertaking. After
taking Winchester and Chichester, he advanced towards Gloucester, which
was in a manner blockaded by Lord Herbert, who had levied considerable
forces in Wales for the royal party.[***] While he attacked the Welsh on
one side, a sally from Gloucester made impression on the other. Herbert
was defeated; five hundred of his men killed on the spot; a thousand
taken prisoners; and he himself escaped with some difficulty to Oxford.
Hereford, esteemed a strong town, defended by a considerable garrison,
was surrendered to Waller, from the cowardice of Colonel Price, the
governor. Tewkesbury underwent the same fate. Worcester refused him
admittance; and Waller, without placing any garrisons in his new
conquests, retired to Gloucester, and he thence joined the army under
the earl of Essex.[****]

* He had taken possession of Lichfield, and was viewing from
a window St. Chad's cathedral, in which a party of the
royalists had fortified themselves. He was cased in complete
armor, but was shot through the eye by a random ball. Lord
Broke was a zealous Puritan; and had formerly said, that he
hoped to see with his eyes the ruin of all the cathedrals of
England. It was a superstitious remark of the royalists,
that he was killed on St. Chad's day by a shot from St.
Chad's cathedral, which pierced that very eye by which he
hoped to see the ruin of all cathedrals. Dugdale, p. 118.
Clarendon, etc.