Page 6 - TIMES AND PLACES IN CONTEMPORARY PAPERS

little time to mount, whilst our Dragooners at the streets end alighted; 3.00am P. 3 (LBU)
those only in some of the nearer houses were surprised.

It seems the alarm was taken to Postcombe as Melves’ troop just had time to saddle up, but such was
their rush to leave they left their Cornet, pistols and other Horsemen’s arms behind. Nine prisoners were

also taken.

About two of the clock on Sunday morning the Enemy with about 2 am. ( EEL )
twelve hundred Horse and a great body of Dragoons fell into a Towne
called Porcham, where one Troop of Horse ( being Colonel Morleys )
was Quartered, of which they took the greatest part, and from thence
went not far to another Village Chinner.

Essex confirms the approximate time of the Royalist engagement at Postcombe and gives an accurate

guess at the numbers of Troopers and Dragoons. Essex exaggerates the loss of men at Postcombe hiding
the fact that Melves’ troop had effectively been disarmed. He also verifies that Chinnor was the next

village to be attacked.

(Leaving Postcombe) ‘Hence after half an hower’… ‘ , his Highness 3.30 am. P. 3 ( LBU )

advanced somewhat towards the left, along under the ledge of hills,
not far from Stokenchurch, and the Villages in the bottom.’

The narrative accurately describes the Icknield Way, an ancient track that leads to Chinnor. The Chiltern
Hills & woodlands are off to the right.

(Chinnor outskirts ) ‘Before 5. in the morning, we were gott to Chinnor.’ 5.00 am. P. 4 ( LBU )

(Chinnor Village ) ‘The Town was presently entered…’ 5.00 am. P. 4 ( LBU )

….they beat up those of the new Bedfordshire Dragoons and took some 5.30 am. ( EEL )
of them Prisoners, and three of their Colours, and some Officers behaving
themselves very well defending the Houses wherein they were;
they set fire on the Town;

Essex confirms that the Royalists set fire to several houses in Chinnor, shortly after they had entered the
town, to flush out those Parliamentarian soldiers firing from the windows, and left the village to burn.

Chinnor ( Leaving ) ‘ having taken up about some hower and halfs time.’ 6.30 am. P. 5 ( LBU )

Rupert’s men round up the prisoners and spare horses to carry the booty back to Oxford. Leaving 50
dead littering the streets they headed back down the Icknield Way and by 7.30am were 2 miles down the
track passing Aston Rowant.

‘Under the Ledge of hills’… ...‘so slow a march’ P. 5 ( LBU )

(Describes Royalist’s slow march down the Lower Icknield Way)

Captain Sanders Troop, and Captain Buller, with 50 commanded men,
which were sent to Chinner by Sir Phillip Stapleton, who had the watch

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