January 1648 Cromwell was accused of high treason by Plots were formed for his assassination. He was Lilburne. overtaken by a dangerous illness, and on the 2nd of March civil war in support of the king broke out.

&' king. Cromwell left London in May to suppress the royalists in Wales, Meanwhile and took Pembroke Castle on the 11th of July. behind his back the royalists had risen all over England, the

Immediately on the fall of Pembroke Cromwell set out to relieve Lambert, who was slowly retreating before Hamilton's superior forces; he joined him near Knaresborough on the 12th of August, and started next day in pursuit of Hamilton in Lancashire, placing himself at Stonyhurst near Preston, cutting off Hamilton from the north and his allies, and defeating him in detail on the 17th, 18th and 19th at Preston and at Warrington. He then marched north into Scotland, following the forces of Monro, and established a new government of the Argyle faction at Edinburgh; replying to the Independents who disapproved of his mild treatment of the Presbyterians, that he desired " union and right understanding between the godly people, Scots, English, Jews, Gentiles, Presbyterians, Anabaptists and all; ... a more glorious work in our eyes than if we had gotten . and made a conthe sacking and plun

quest from the Tweed to the Orcades."