Page 13 - TIMES AND PLACES IN CONTEMPORARY PAPERS

Chalgrove’s three medieval open fields, which is shown to be the ‘Chalgrove cornfeild’ where Rupert

halted.
‘who (together with those that had before skirmished with our Reere)

drew down to the bottom of a great Close, or Pasture: ordering P.6 (LBU)
themselves there among the trees’(OS SU658975)

‘Besides which, they had left a Reserve of 3 Cornets in the Close aforesaid P.7 (LBU)
among the trees, by Warpsgrove House, (OS SU650979)

were pursued by ours a full mile and quarter (as the neighbours say)

from the place of the first encounter. They all fled back again over
Golder hill to Esington:’

The first encounter referred to above, to which Parliament routed a full mile and quarter from the Close
aforesaid among the trees, by Warpsgrove House, is the same Close as that at the bottom of Golder Hill.
From this point of the first encounter to the trees by Warpsgrove House is about a mile and a quarter.
Confusion has occurred by some in believing the two sets of trees referred toabove are the same copse.
The trees at the bottom of Golder Hill at (OS SU658975) are in the same Close as the trees by
Warpsgrove House (OS SU650979) as quoted in the previous extracts.
When Rupert made ‘shew’ of a retreat and Parliament’s cavalry ‘doubled their march for eagerness’
from the trees at Golder Hill down the Close they cantered 1,000 yards westward to the trees by the
Warpsgrove House.

Royalist foot with prisoners sent on to Chiselhampton Bridge. B4 9.00am. P. 6 (LBU)

The vanguard of the Royalist foot, ½ a mile in front of their Horse, is at the front of a near 1 mile long
column and marching with all speed to Chiselhampton Bridge. The only way that Parliament’s cavalry

can get into contact with the royalist infantry is by finding the gap in the hedge at Warpsgrove Lane. (SU

OS650979)

Rupert would have been aware that ways through the Great Hedge after Warpsgrove Lane were few.

Where they may have had an opportunity to break through, their aspirations of an attack against the

infantry across the marshy ground would have been suicidal. Parliament would have been open to attack
by the entrenched dragoons and/or cut to pieces by Rupert’s 1,000 troopers. Besides the infantry, in
relation to parliament’s cavalry, would be parting at 25O of separation on route to Chiselhampton.

‘the Princes next design was to line the hedges along the Lanes that led thither.’ B4 9.00am. P. 6 ( LBU )

‘The better to entice them on, the Prince with his Horse made shew of a Retreat:’ 9.00am. P. 6 ( LBU )

‘whereupon the Rebells advanc’t cheerfully: doubling their march for 9.00am. P. 6 ( LBU )
eagerness, and coming up close to us.’….

With parliament’s options limited and his infantry safe, Rupert could plan the enemy’s destruction. By the

time the Battle starts the foot are at least a 1 mile away by Rofford Lane with the Dragoons protecting

their rear. Rupert turned his troopers from column into line, more as a delaying tactic, to face
Parliament’s weak threat.
When Rupert decided the time appropriate he ordered his Troopers to turn into ‘Column of March’ and
‘made shew of a retreat’. The enemy in total confusion had no option but to chase after their quarry who

were calmly walking away.

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