Page 15 - TIMES AND PLACES IN CONTEMPORARY PAPERS

Which hedge was it that parted the ‘Rebells’ from Prince Rupert’s cavalry? Parliament’s reserves are by
the Great Hedge (OS SU650979) and their dragoons began their assault from the ‘end’ of a hedge; a

feature lacking in a Great Hedge. The Royalists had been following an ancient track all the way from
South Weston. (See ‘kept still upon the Reare for almost five miles.’ written earlier.) Upper Marsh Lane,

(Magdalen College maps of 1679 & 1822 show this lane) a continuation of the ancient track and being

the most direct route to Chiselhampton that avoided the marsh. It was bounded by enclosures that would
feature a ragged hedge at their ends for the dragoons and ‘Forlorn hope of Horse’ ‘to come to the end of
it.’ The royalists had to veer left from the Great Hedge, following the track around the marsh while

Parliament, unable to get through the Great Hedge, had to veer to the right of the marsh to the gap at

(OS SU650979) by Warpsgrove House. The Royalists in Upper Marsh Lane (OS SU646978) behind the

rough hedge would see their enemy coming through the Great Hedge 550 yards to the north across the

Battlefield.
O.S. mark the at (OS SU644973)and others have ‘the’ hedge and battle around Sandfield, (OS SU642973)
another of Chalgrove’s medieval fields. Lord Nugent, in 1832, published ‘Some Memorials of John
Hampden his Party and his Times’ and in 1843 had a Monument erected close to the battlefield for the
200th anniversary.

With no other authority O.S. placed the Battle of Chalgrove below the Old Watlington Road. (to the left of

the lane from the Monument to the airfield.)(OS SU644973) Nugent was completely and totally wrong in
explaining John Hampden’s role at Chalgrove. His research into the battle was equally questionable.
Those who have used Nugent’s research to qualify their own work have been misguided. The Battle did

not take place in or around Sandfield! (Please challenge the writer if there is evidence to refute these

statements.)

Some of ours affirm, how they over-heard Dulbiere P.7 (LBU)
(who brought up some of the Rebels first Horse) upon sight
of the Princes order and dividing of his Wings, to call out to his People
to retreat, least they were hemmed in by us.

Col Dulbiere, an experienced cavalry officer, understood the danger that Parliament’s Horse were in!
With the Great Hedge to the north and very boggy ground to the west and to the south and east hedges
with enclosures beyond, they were in a trap.

‘the Rebells being so neere us, may bring our Reere into confusion before

we can recover to our ambush yea (saith he) their insolence is not to be

endured. This said, His Highness facing all about, set spurrs to his Horse,

and first of all (in the very face of the Dragooners) leapt the hedge that

parted us from the Rebells. The Captaine, and rest of His Troop of Lifeguards

(every man as they could) jumbled over after him: and as about 15. were gotten

over, the Prince presently drew them up into a Front, till the rest could recover

up to him. 9. 15 am. P. 7 ( LBU )

‘having passed with the Princes Regiment beyond the end of the hedge P. 7 ( LBU )
on the left hand’

Taking full advantage of intelligence from recent deserters by his side, his knowledge of the terrain and of
his adversaries’ confusion of command and ignorance of the area the Prince jumped the hedge. The

dragoons that lined the hedge fled to leave the Prince time to settle his Lifeguard, Regiment and the two
troops from the Prince of Wales’ ready for battle.

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