pressing hotly upon them they gained at last the Sidbury Gate,
but only to find that an overset ammunition wagon blocked the
entrance. In this plight, and without attempting to move it,
they faced about to make a last stand against the Puritan
onslaught.

Charles had flung himself from his charger and climbed the
obstruction, and in this he was presently followed by others,
amongst whom was Crispin.

In the High Street Galliard came upon the King, mounted on a
fresh horse, addressing a Scottish regiment of foot. The
soldiers had thrown down their arms and stood sullenly before
him, refusing to obey his command to take them up again and
help him attempt, even at that late hour, to retrieve the
fortunes of the day. Crispin looked on in scorn and loathing.
His passions awakened at the sight of Lesley's inaction needed
but this last breath to fan it into a very blaze of wrath. And
what he said to them touching themselves, their country, and
the Kirk Committee that had made sheep of them, was so bitter
and contemptuous that none but men in the most parlous and
pitiable of conditions could have suffered it.

He was still hurling vituperations at them when Colonel Pride
with a troop of Parliamentarian horse - having completely
overcome the resistance at the Sidbury Gate - rode into the
town. At the news of this, Crispin made a last appeal to the
infantry.

"Afoot, you Scottish curs!" he thundered. "Would you rather be