Page 9 - TIMES AND PLACES IN CONTEMPORARY PAPERS
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when he discovered the fire there, to know the occasion of it, 8.00 - 8.15am (EEL)
he likewise sent one Troop of Dragoons under the command of
Captain Dundass, who came up to them. There were likewise some
few of Captain Melves Dragoons that came to them:
‘These being faced once or twice’… ‘they so far retreated.’ 8.00 - 8.15am. P. 5 ( LBU )
‘…we having not above 300. Horse (Gunter etc with Dragoons .) 8.15am. ( EEL )
our men charged them very gallantly, and slew divers of them;
but while they were in fight, (*) the Enemy being so very strong, kept
a Body of Horse for his reserve, and with that Body wheel’d about
and charg’d our men in the reare, so that being encompassed and
overborne with multitude, (**) they broke and fled, (***) though not
very far;
For when I heard that our men marched in the Reere of the
Enemy, I sent to Sir Philip Stapleton, who presently Marched toward
them with his Regiment; & though he came somewhat short of the
Skirmish, yet seeing our men retreat in that disorder, he stopt them,
caused them to draw into a Body with him, where they stood about
an hour: Whereupon the Enemy marched away.’
‘My L. of Essexes Relation, here mentioneth Captain Sanders Troop, P. 6 ( LBU )
and Captain Buller with 50. commanded men; Captaine Dundasses
Troop of Dragooners, with some few of Colonell Melves. But surely
these were not all their forces.’
‘:for that the Prince with his lifeguards, with Sword and Pistoll charging P. 8 ( LBU )
them home upon the flanck, ( not wheeling about upon their Reere, as
the London Relation tells it ) put them in rowte at the first encounter.’
The (LBU) narrator is bringing attention to the way Essex has avoided mentioning the Battle of
Chalgrove. Essex only names those troops who took part in the skirmish. ‘But surely these were not all
their forces’, states the LBU, drawing attention to Parliament’s 13 Cornets.
Events in Essex’s letter stated before the (*) apply only to the second skirmish while the statement
between the (*)&(**) mainly concerns the second skirmish around South Weston, it also has connotations
relating to events at the Battle at Chalgrove. The part between the (**)& (***) applies to the second
skirmish and to the later rout at the end of the Battle. After the (***) only facts relating to events after the
Battle and rout are recorded.
Dundass and Melves 100 men had arrived in time for the second skirmish to join Gunter, Crosse &
Sheffield, about 200 men, who had been skirmishing at Aston Rowant, bringing the tally to the 300 mark.
Dundass sent a detachment back to Thame arriving about 9.15am. Stapleton left Thame at around
9.30am to greet those who had been routed from the Battle between Stoke Talmage and Clare Crossroads
about 10.00am.
‘Mounsier Dulbier with Captaine Bosa and Captaine Ennis, did likewise P. 5 ( EEL )
carry themselves very well.’
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