46 BRITISH PHYSICIANS. who was attached to the king, as well by his office as by gratitude and affection, followed the fortunes of his master, and on his leaving London, in con- sequence of the increasing tumults, attended him, and was present at the battle of Edge Hill, in 1642. The royal army lay near Banbury ; that of the parliament at Keinton, in the county of Warwick. In the early part of the day, the advantage was decidedly with the king ; but, from the impatience of his body of reserve, who judging, like raw sol- diers, that a complete victory was gained, heed- lessly followed in pursuit of the fugitive troops of the enemy, the tide of battle turned against Charles, and towards its close everything wore the appearance of a defeat, rather than a victory. Some advised the king to leave the field ; but the monarch rejected such pusillanimous counsel. The two armies faced each other for some time, but neither of them retained courage sufficient for a new attack. All night they lay under arms ; and next morning found themselves in sight of each other. General, as well as soldier, on both sides, seemed averse to renew the battle. Five thousand men are said to have been found dead on the field of battle ; and the loss of the two armies, as far as can be ascertained by the opposite accounts, was nearly equal. Both sides claimed the victory ; but the king, except the taking of Banbury, had few advantages to boast of, and a few days after the battle continued his march, and took possession of Oxford, the only town in his dominions which was altogether at his devotion. Harvey, with the rest of the royal household, retired to this city, and
