Note 120 — Chapter XIV

“Lieutenant-General Cromwell had the impudence and boldness to assume much of the honour of that victory to himself.... My friend Cromwell had neither part nor lot in the business. For I have several times heard it from Crawford,” [Crawford was Major-General to the Earl of Manchester’s Brigade] “that, when the whole army at Marston Moor was in a fair possibility to be utterly routed, and a great part of it was still running, he saw the body of horse of that brigade standing still, and to his seeming doubtful which way to charge, backward or forward, when he came up to them in a great passion, reviling them with the names of poltroons and cowards, and asked them if they would stand still and see the day lost? Whereupon Cromwell showed himself, and said in a pitiful voice: ‘Major-General, what shall I do?’ Crawford replied: ‘Sir, if you charge not, all is lost’. Cromwell answered that he was wounded and was not able to charge (his great wound being a little burn in the neck by the accidental going-off behind him of one of the soldier’s pistols), then Crawford desired him to go off the field, and sending one away with him ... led them on himself, which was not the duty of his place and as little for Cromwell’s honour.”—Memoirs of Denzil Lord Hollis.