He therefore ordered them to advance; but, to his
horror, not one of these men, who had looked on as passive
spectators, made a movement. In this hour, when victory or
defeat hung upon a thread the Scots ignominiously failed their
king. Charles instantly saw he was undone. The English cavalry
continued to fight bravely, in their desperation using the butt
ends of their muskets; but they were gradually compelled to give
way before the enemy, who, seeing their condition, had renewed
the attack. The Royalists therefore fell back into the city.
When the king re-entered Worcester he saw before him a scene of
the most disastrous confusion. Royalists and Republicans
encountered and fought each other in every thoroughfare; the air
was filled with the report of muskets, the imprecations of
soldiers, the groans of wounded men, and the shrieks of women.
The streets ran red with blood. At such a sight his heart sank
within him, but, manning himself for fresh efforts, he called his
troops together and sought to incite them with courage to make a
final charge. "I would rather," he cried out, "you would shoot
me than keep me alive to see the sad consequences of this fatal
day." Those who heard him were disheartened: it was too late to
retrieve their heavy losses: most of them refused to heed him;
many sought safety in flight. Then the young king's friends,
gathering round, besought him to make good his escape; and
accordingly, with a sad heart, he rode out of St.
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