Page 5 - TIMES AND PLACES IN CONTEMPORARY PAPERS

It is to be noted that throughout this narration all participants at the Battle meet or are at various
locations in a logical time order throughout the whole expedition. Extrapolations are made, but in
accordance with the parameters above.

PLACES AND EVENTS TIME DOCUMENT

Saturday June 17th 1643. 12am. P. 1 (LBU)
Since the Earl of Essex late drawing down his Army unto Tame,
nothing of moment hath been offered at, untill Saturday June 17th. 1643.
Upon which day, we had the Alarm of a strong Partee of about 2500
Horse & Foot, sent out to beat up the Kings Out-Quarters.

(Rupert) resolved that very day to march quite through the middle 12am. P. 1 (LBU)

of the Quarters: even to the very farthest of them towards London,
beyond & besides Tame, the Earl’s head-quarter.

For this purpose, on the same Saturday June 17th. 1643 about 4 4pm P. 2 (LBU)
in the afternoon his Highness drew out of Oxford:

crossing the river Charwell [ River Thame] at Chiselhampton-Bridge. 11pm P. 2 (LBU)
His strength was near 2000 men: whereof about 1000 Horse
under 3. Regiments.

Sunday June 18th 1643 1.00am P. 2 (LBU)
…by one a clock next morning, was the Prince advanced as high as

over against Tetsworth, and upon the right hand of it.

The above describes Latchford Lane, an old track that leads from Great Haseley that passes Tetsworth on
its right, as viewed from Rupert’s perspective.

our Partee being discovered by their Sentinel, we were saluted with his 1.00am P. 2 (LBU)
Pistol first, & Carbine… But the Prince would have none of these
answered: for his design being to advance farther, he would neither lose
time, nor by shooting give the Alarm to other Quarters of the Rebels.
However, from this time forward they had the Alarm, and warning by it
throughout all their Quarters to draw together to confront the Prince, either
in his advancing or returning.

The Royalists, since November 1642, had regularly sent out raiding parties of 2/300 men into
Oxfordshire. The sentinels hoped that by firing their muskets Tetsworth would not be attacked; most of
their garrison were out on nightwatch. If the alarum was taken to Thame then it was dismissed as just
another raid. It came as a surprise to Sir Philip Stapleton, who had the Watch that night in Thame, of
such a large royalist force not more 4 miles away passing unhindered through his out quarters.

By 3 in the morning, we had reached Postcomb, a Hamlet belonging to
Lewknor parish. There lay a Horse Quarter of Rebels: who having some

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