the Royalist gentry round were sending in more horse; the
country train-bands were up. The battle would be very unequal; was it
worth while to fight? For some hours the two bodies stood facing each
other, Lambert's in a ploughed field, with a little stream in his
front, to which Ingoldsby rode up frequently, parleying with such of
Lambert's troopers as were nearest, and so effectively as to bring
some of them over. At last, Lambert showing no signs of surrender,
Ingoldsby and Streater advanced, Ingoldsby ready to charge with his
horse, but Streater marching the foot first with beat of drum to try
the effect of a close approach. There was the prelude of a few shots,
which hurt one or two of Lambert's troopers; but the orders were that
the general fire should be reserved till the musketeers should see
the pikemen already within push of the enemy. Then it was not
necessary. Lambert's men had been wavering all the while; his
troopers now turned the noses of their pistols downwards; one troop
came off entire to Ingoldsby; the rest broke up and fled. But Lambert
himself was Ingoldsby's mark. Dashing up to him, pistol in hand, he
claimed him as his prisoner. There was a kind of scuffle, Creed and
others imploring Ingoldsby to let Lambert go; and in the scuffle
Lambert turned his horse and made off, Ingoldsby after him at full
gallop. They were men of about the same age, neither over forty, but
Ingoldsby the stouter and more fearless for a personal encounter. The
two horses were abreast, or Ingoldsby's a little ahead, the rider
turning round in his seat, with his pistol presented at Lambert, whom
he swore he would shoot if he did not yield. Lambert pleaded yet a
pitiful word or two, and then reined in and was taken.--On Tuesday,
the 24th of April, Lambert was again in the Tower, with Cobbet,
Creed, and other prisoners, though Okey and Axtell were not yet among
them. There had been a great review of the City Militia that day in
Hyde Park, at which the various regiments, red, white, green, blue,
yellow, and orange, with the auxiliaries from the suburbs, made the
magnificent muster of 12,000 men. The Parliament was to meet next
day, and Monk and the Council of State had no farther anxiety. Among
the measures they had taken after Lambert's escape had been an order
that the engagement, already so generally signed by the Officers,
pledging to agreement in whatever Parliament should prescribe as to
the future form of government, shoul