y of the army, the city beat a parley.
The garrison was allowed to march out with their arms and baggage,
leaving their cannon, ammunition, and colors. For this instance
of cowardice, Fiennes was afterwards tried by a court martial, and
condemned to lose his head; but the sentence was remitted by the
general.[*]

* Rush. vol. vi p. 284. Clarendon, vol. iii. p 293, 294,
etc.

Great complaints were made of violences exercised on the garrison,
contrary to the capitulation. An apology was made by the royalists,
as if these were a retaliation for some violences committed on their
friends at the surrender of Reading. And under pretence of like
retaliations, but really from the extreme animosity of the parties, were
such irregularities continued during the whole course of the war.[*]

* Clarendon, vol. iii. p. 297

The loss sustained by the royalists in the assault of Bristol was
considerable. Five hundred excellent soldiers perished. Among those of
condition were Grandison, Slanning, Trevannion, and Moyle; Bellasis,
Ashley, and Sir John Owen were wounded; yet was the success upon the
whole so considerable, as mightily raised the courage of the one party
and depressed that of the other. The king, to show that he was not
intoxicated with good fortune, nor aspired to a total victory over the
parliament, published a manifesto, in which he renewed the protestation
formerly taken, with great solemnity, at the head of his army, and
expressed his firm intention of making peace upon the reestablishment
of the constitution. Having joined the camp at Bristol, and sent Prince
Maurice with a detachment into Devonshire, he deliberated how to employ
the remaining forces in an enterprise of moment. Some proposed, and
seemingly with reason, to march directly to London, where every
thing was in confusion, where the army of the parliament was baffled,
weakened, and dismayed, and where, it was hoped, either by an
insurrection of the citizens, by victory, or by treaty, a speedy end
might be put to the civil disorders. But this undertaking, by reason of
the great number and force of the London militia, was thought by many
to be attended with considerable difficulties. Gloucester, lying within
twenty miles, presented an easier, yet a very important conquest. It was
the only remaining garrison possessed by the parliament in those parts.
Could that city be reduced, the king held the whole course of the Severn
under his command; th