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At these religious tournaments, the victory was commonly claimed by both parties ; but if the justice of the cause were to be judged of from the spirit and weapons of the combatants, it would have been granted to neither. About a dozen young inen in Gloucester had been re-baptized, and laboured, as was very natural, to draw others after them. Mr. Winnel, the minister of the place, wrote a book against the Baptists; but being of a hot and impatient spirit, he rather excited than calmed the minds of the people; and while he produced little effect on the Baptists, he brought upon himself the censure of the public for his asperity and violence. This was the commencement, Baxter says, of much evil at Gloucester.

After a month's absence from his charge, his friends at Kidderminster solicited his re. turn; and he complied, but found affairs in a state little better than when he went away; for the fury of the rabble and the insolence of the king's troops were such, that he was again forced to withdraw. The war was now in active operation in that part of the country; the royal forces being under the command of Prince Rupert, and the Parlia

ment's under the Earl of Essex. Upon the Lord's day, October 23, 1642, while he was preaching for his friend, Mr. Samuel Clark, at Alcester, it became evident the armies were engaged, for the report of caynon was distinctly heard during the sermon. This was the battle of Edgehill, in which, though both armies suffered much, the success was not decisive on either side, for although Prince Rupert defeated the Earl of Essex's left wing, the other part of his army suffered a defeat, while his men were engaged in pluudering the wagons.

Baxter went on the ground next morning, and found the Earl of Essex encamped on the field of battle, and the King's army facing them on a hill about a mile off. There were about a thousand dead bodies on the field between them; and some, he supposes, had been already buried. But both the armies seemed indisposed to renew the conflict, and gradually removed from each other.

Baxter now found himself in an embarrassing situation. Driven from his home, and destitute of money and friends, he knew not whither to betake himself. After some consideration, he resolved to go to Coventry,

where an old acquaintance, Mr. Simon King: was minister. Accordingly, he went thither, and remained a month; but there appeared no more probability of a termination of the war now than before. While he was considering what course he should pursue, he received an invitation from the governor and committee of the city, to remain aud preach to the soldiers. This suited well with his present urgent necessities, but he was resolved not to accept a commission as chaplain to a regiment; yet he was willing preach once or twice a week to the garrison. Here then, he took up his abode in the Governor's house, and lived in as much quietness as if it had been in time of peace; preaching to the soldiers once a week, and once on the Lord's day to the people, receiving nothing from either but his food.

The war having spread over almost every part of the country, and great agitation and confusion ensuing, there was safety scarcely any where. For two months he retired from Coventry, and went into Shropshire; and having got his father out of prison, he returned to Coventry, where he spent another year in studying the Scriptures and preach

ing to the soldiers. Among his hearers, he informs us, there were many godly and judicious persons. There were also at Coventry, about thirty worthy ministers, who had taken refuge there from the popular fury, and from the brutal insolence of the soldiers, though they had never meddled in the contest which was going on.

At Coventry, Mr. Baxter took the solemn league and covenant, and administered it to another, of which he afterwards bitterly repented. The garrison at Coventry consisted of both citizens and countrymen. The latter were such as had been forced from their own dwellings, and were among the most religious persons in all that country. A few fanatical persons of Sir Henry Vane's party, who had come over from New England, got into the garrison, and with an Anabaptist tailor, greatly disturbed the peace of the garrison, by infecting the honest soldiers with their opinions ; but they were not so successful here as in Cromwell's army.

Mr. Baxter preached in public on the Anabaptist controversy, and against the Separatists. Some of his Worcester friends, and even some of the foot soldiers were able, he informs us, to

baffle the Separatists, Anabaptists, and Antinomians; and so the garrison was kept sound.

The Anabaptists now sent for one Benjamin Cox, an old minister of their persuasion, from Bedford, who was no contemptible scholar, and with whom Baxter had much controversy, first by word of mouth, and afterwards in writing. Cox was desired to leave the city; but returning again he was imprisoned. Some ascribed this to Baxter, but he declares that he had nothing to do with putting him in, though he used his influence to get him out of prison.

CHAPTER II.

State of Cromwell's army-Baxter attempts to arrest error-he leaves the army and returns to Kidderminster-his ministerial labours, and success.

NASEBY being not far from Coventry, he, upon the report of the battle and victory at that place, had a desire to go over and see whether some of his dear friends, who were