Page 16 - TIMES AND PLACES IN CONTEMPORARY PAPERS

Rupert ordered the two troops out his own Regiment, Captain Martin and Captain Gardiner, to lead the

charge from his left flank. Parliament responded with a volley of pistol shot at a distance and another at

close range to disrupt this charge. Rupert with his Lifeguard, Regiment and two other troops stormed into

the disrupted enemy with swords at the ready into the now virtually unarmed enemy.
Against the Royalists’ top cavalry units Parliament had little chance. With Col Urry reportedly shouting
that’s Hampden, that’s Gunter etc the Royalists shot these officers at point blank range. Parliament’s
leaderless troops unable to rout were kept hemmed in for nearly an hour. Such was the fun Rupert’s

reserve joined the fray, giving time for other troops to retire and reload their pistols at leisure.
(Mercurius Aulicus – ‘charged the Enemy so bravely that he slew above an hundred dead in the place, and made the rest

shew the justice of the their cause that is, run away most shamefully;’) Except for a little foray against General
Percy’s Regiment, Parliament’s reserve held their ground until charged upon at the end of the battle.

‘Before this, and in time of the fight, some three Cornets of them were observed P. 9 ( LBU )

to wheelabout; as if they intended to get betwixt us and Chiselhampton Bridge,

or to charge us upon the reere, Which being observed by Lieutenant Colonell O-Neale,
he borrowed two Troopes of General Percyes Regiment, and made out after them:’

Parliament’s reserve may have tried to relieve their beleaguered troops by drawing General Percy’s
Regiment away from the battle. But it was too little action too late to save the day. As reported above they
were back at the Great Hedge at the end of the battle and routed.

‘The Rebells now flying to their Reserve of three Colours in the Close by

Wapsgrove House’ were pursued by ours in execution all the way thither: who

now (as they could) there rallying, gave occasion to the defeat of

those three Troopes also. 9.45 am. P. 8 ( LBU )

were pursued by ours a full mile and quarter (as the neighbours say) 10. 00 am. P. 8 ( LBU )

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

With his foot and dragoons safe Rupert could afford to round up his enemy and run them through the gap
in the Hedge routing their reserve with the fleeing troops back from whence they came over Golder Hill
to the place of the first encounter.

that all now being in confusion, were pursued by ours a full mile and 10.00 am. P. 8-9 ( LBU )
quarter (as the neighbours say) from the place of the first encounter.
They all fled back again over Golder hill to Esington: and so farre
Sir Philip Stapleton with his Regiment was not yet come and if he stopt
and drew the Retreaters up into a body, and made a stand for an hower
with them, ( as the London Relation tells us) twas surely behind and
beyond the great hill where ours could not discern them. Yea plainly our
two Prisoners since their returne affirme, that twas two miles from the
place of fight ere he met them.’

‘And 15 more (dead) in Easington that were slain in pursuit.’ P. 11 ( LBU )

‘Ten other sorely wounded men, were brought into Mr. Stevens house in Esington’ P. 12 ( LBU )

13