Page 11 - TIMES AND PLACES IN CONTEMPORARY PAPERS

Those who had skirmished at South Weston chased after the Royalists and closely harassed them.
Together they followed an old footpath that went down between the folds of Golder Hill into Easington.
(Path is shown on William Webb’s 1612 map. (Ref 3) This path was ploughed over in 1933 by the current
owner’s father.) (This is the area of the first encounter at Chalgrove.) From Easington the track passed
through the Great Hedge into the Parish of Chalgrove to follow closely the line of the Great Hedge.
Gunter and Rupert could see the scratch force of Troopers cutting across Round Hill into Lewknor
Meadow and both men realised they would not be able to complete the outflanking manoeuvre. (Because
of the Great Hedge) Gunter also realised that if he took his men through the gap into Chalgrove Parish
they would be in danger of being isolated, out numbered and decimated. Gunter chose to rejoin his men
most likely through a gate into Lewknor Meadow, a feature that still exists today.
Rupert, who probably chose this way to Chiselhampton, could see the total confusion of Parliament’s
troops, their plans of outflanking him in tatters. With Parliament’s army contained Rupert had the luxury
of making them do his bidding. While parliament’s men argued amongst themselves (Two Colonels, one
Sergeant Major of Horse and 40 or more Captains and Lieutenants in Lewknor Meadow all vying for
honour of leading a troop or more. ) as to who had command and what to do next Rupert turned his
Troopers to face them. Parliament had to respond and probably to the amusement of the royalists,
watched the farce of the enemy trying to get into battle order.
Rupert, having previously given orders to the Foot to continue their march towards Chiselhampton with
the prisoners and booty turned his attention to his Dragoons. Rupert ordered them to cover the infantry’s
retreat, setting ambush points should others unknown attack. With his infantry safely away from any
action Rupert had time to entertain Parliament’s troopers and draw them into a trap.
Rupert, the leading cavalry strategist, with his Lifeguard and three crack regiments, who all knew the
area of Chalgrove intimately, were faced by a leaderless scratch force of troopers who were near lost in
their surroundings.
Rupert turned his troopers from line into column and casually marched away leaving the enemy still
arguing. The Royalists veered away to the left of the Great Hedge following the ancient track that
avoided the marshy area ahead of them.
Parliament had little option but to find a way through the Great Hedge to again threaten the retreating
Royalists. They chased off down the Great Close to the right of the Great Hedge sweeping past
Warpsgrove House and through the gap in the Hedge(OS SU650979) made by the lane from Chalgrove
that led to the House.
Eight Cornets of Horse stormed through the Great Hedge onto the Battle field (OS SU646978) to confront
the royalists. They were only separated by a scabby hedge; the Great Hedge is 200 yards to their rear
where the three troops of Reserve were placed. Rupert, on the ancient track Upper Marsh Lane, (OS
SU646976) turned his troopers from column into line to face his enemy once again.
Col Dulbier brought up the dragoons to the end of the scabby hedge to fire upon the Prince, but it was
more likely to be General Percy’s Regiment on the Royalist right wing who suffered from their carbines.
Col. Dulbier is reported to have called out to Gunter to ‘retreat lest we be hemmed in by them’. Rupert
jumped the hedge, scattering the dragoons and in some panic 15 of his Lifeguard jumbled over after him
while the rest of his Lifeguard and Regiment went round the hedge to confront the enemy.
The Prince’s Regiment and Lifeguard, 450 men, were fewer in number than eight Cornets so much so that
the Prince called for two more troops to make his front even with the enemy. Parliament left 3 troops in
reserve in the lane by the Great Hedge close to Warpsgrove House and a further two troops higher up
the hill. Five Parliament troops who would remain spectators for most of the battle leaving the 8 Cornets
to the full might of all the Prince’s crack troops. This was their order at around 9am Sunday 18th June
1643.
The Prince ordered Captain Martin and Gardiner’s troops from his left flank to lead the charge, they
endured two volleys of pistol as they galloped in amongst the enemy. As these troops engaged the Prince
with his Lifeguards and Regiment charged with swords at the ready and tore into Parliament’s midst.

8