Appendix 2 Seventeenth century accounts of the battle of Roundway Down July 1643
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There are nine (9) 17th century accounts in this document;
1) Parliamentary Colonel .... A true relation of the fight between Sir William Waller's forces and those sent from Oxford.
2) Royalist - Lord Wilmot's account dated July 14th the day after the battle.
3) An account from the Biography of Sir John Digby, Royalist Colonel of Horse under Lord Wilmot.
4) Bellum Civile - Sir Ralph Hoptons's Royalist account of the battle.
5) Account of Captain Edward Harley - Waller’s Parliamentary Cavalry - written on July 15th, 1643 in Bristol.
6) Account of Lieutenant Colonel Walter Slingsby's - Royalist Foot in Devizes castle.
7) Lord Byrons Royalist Horse General's account - the most detailed that we have.
8) Captain Richard Atkyn's (Royalist cavalry) - his account was written 15 years after the battle. It includes his fight and wounding of Sir Arthur Haselrige.
9) Edward Hyde, Lord Clarendon History of the Great Rebellion - Siege of Devizes and Battle of Roundway Down.
The 17th century accounts
1) A true relation of the fight between Sir William Wallers forces and those sent from Oxford. With the manner of Sir Williams Wallers retreat to Bristol, and the condition of his Army at this present. Sent from a Colonell in that Army now in Bristol, to a friend of his in London. Published according to order. London. Printed by G. Dexter, for R. Dunscum. 1643.
I have put the daily accounts Friday through Thursday in bullet points to aid readability, the spellings are as in the original. This account was published within a few days of the battle and by a participant on the parliamentary side.
"Sir, I received yours of the II Instant to which I gave present answer. For news with us, hath the face of bad: but for my own part I see a very great Deliverance in it and Gods immediate hand in saving this Army. I shall give you a brief account of the progress and success thereof since the last defeat given Sir Ralph Hopton on Lansdowne, which is thus:
• Friday the enemy lay in Marshfield; we lay that night in the field, within two miles of him.
• Saturday he retreated to Chippenham. We followed and kept the field.
• Sunday he retreated to the Devizes, we pursued and fought with him, and kill’d many of his horse, and especially foot: but it being late we durst not enter the Town, but still kept the field in a green near Rowde..
• The next morning, being Monday, we drew up to Bagnall Hill with our whole body. That night (Monday evening AC) wee sent out many parties, and drew down to Runway (Roundway); we brought in many prisoners, beat the Lord of Craford (Crawford), took 8 colours and some officers. (This account indicates that there were 2 fights with Crawford AC)
• Next night (Tuesday) we had intelligence of a great party coming with Ammunition, which we took, being six cartloads; but the enemy running away in due time we had but few prisoners. That night Prince Maurice and the Marquis (Hertford), with most of their horse, stole away for Oxford. We did light on their rear with a small party and took 17 or 18 prisoners.
• Tuesday morning we fell upon the town, which they well defended. In the afternoon desired a parle, and two hours cessation, which on good reason was granted them, but they not conforming to our demands, we fell on again that night, though coldly.
• The next day Wednesday, we continued our assault, beat them from all their outworks and guards, but that day and night being extreme wet, hindered us much.
• Thursday night (presumably he means Wednesday evening for a Thursday morning assault AC) we had resolved on a general assault: but this resolution was scarce taken, but news came that the enemy from Oxford was within two miles, with two thousand horse, which made us draw up to Bagnall hill without drum or trumpet, where we found the enemy in sight, marching towards us.
We long’d to charge them with our horse which we did with some disadvantage, and were put to a retreat disorderly, but rallied again with the help of our reserve. The enemy came on, and we charged them the second time, and all our horse were routed, their reserve standing firm. We fled they followed, but our foot being scarce considerable stood one hour and an halfe, and forced their horse to retreat divers time: but their foot coming up from the Devizes, made ours leave their armes and fly.
We have lost only 50 horse and at the most 200 common soldiers slain, and taken prisoner about 500 armes. No man of note killed or hurt, only Sir Arthur Haslerigge who received a wound in his arme and an hurt in his eare, but not dangerous: he fought very bravely. We know we killed many of their best men, but not known to us by name, because we lost the field. We retreated all to this city (Bristol) and hope to make good Bath also.
As this was a great loss to us, so likely to all the west unless the Lord General (Essex near Oxford) suddenly; however, we acknowledge Gods over ruling power in our great deliverance; the enemy having having six regiments of horse, and 700 dragoons, that never presented themselves in our view, but lay in ambush, as divers report, who saw them and have since broke through their army, and are returned to us. The same is also confessed by Major Byron, whom we took prisoner. Finis
2) Lord Wilmot wrote an account dated July 14th the day after the battle.
The original document is in the archives of Alnwick castle, Northumberland. Below are notes taken from this by Julian Humphrys of the Battlefield Trust
Sir William Wallers strength
Regiments of foot - 5 - 2500
Regiments of horse - 6 - 2500
1 Regiment of dragoons - 500
Cannon brass - 007
The King's strength
1500 horse and 2 small brass pieces
The Battle fought at Roundway Downs (sic)...
- Died 600
- Prisoners 800
- Colours of Foot taken 0028
- Colours of horse taken 008
- Brass pieces taken 007
- .... were taken prisoners 113 (currently illegible but may say that 113 prisoners were released, perhaps captured by the Parliamentarians during Crawford abortive ammunition resupply operation and the chase from Chippenham to Devizes AC).
- All the baggage and ammunition taken
'Of ours killed very few only Dudley Smith of note but many officers but many officers (sic), and gentlemen hurt. (Note how Wilmot has written the same thing twice. A reminder that these notes could be dashed off in a hurry, not read through and may well include slips of the pen as well as deliberate exaggerations etc.
On reverse in a different hand) Lord Wilmot's information of the Battle of Roundway Down July 14 1643.
3) An account from the Biography of Sir John Digby, Royalist Colonel of Horse under Lord Wilmot.
This excerpt comes from the Camden Societies 'Life of Sir John Digby' (Camden Miscellany Vol XII (1910). I am grateful to Simon Marsh, Trustee of the Battlefields Trust, for bringing this to my attention.
In this famous battle Sir John commanded a strong body of horse, wherewith he fell upon Sir Arthur Haselrigge’s Cuirassiers with such resolution and dexterity that many being killed upon the place he put the rest to a shameful rout in which encounter Sir Arthur himself was grievously wounded, but soon after these Cuirassiers rallying again at a distance upon a second charge made by Sir John were forced to trust more to their horses heels than their own hands, yet many made more haste than good speed, for in their swift horse race riding upon the spur down the slippery hills some broke their own necks or their horses or both.
Our Martial Knight on the plain following the chase in the pursuit with some of his horse over topped them and compelled them sore against their Will to an ungrateful stand, necessitating them to either fight or yield themselves Prisoners
Sir John observing the main body of foot to stand on a neighbouring hill in battaglia, resolved to give them also a full charge, wherefore ranking in their files and marshaling his men, he commanded that when by making a circuit they had gained the hill, and were come at a competent distance they should suddenly ride in with full speed and disorder their ranks, but it seemed, they mistook his command wheeled on the contrary hand to his directions, not withstanding which error he accompanied but with one man confidently marched up close unto them and almost roundabout them; (though in the mean space many fierce volleys though in vain and without hurt played upon them and returned to the Body of horse which stood in the in the bottom and gazed with admiration of his resolute and venturous attempt.
The foot now seeing themselves abandoned by their Army of Horse, which was long since fled out of the field, and amazed with the confident boldness of Sir John, whom they saw making ready with a charge, threw down their muskets, swords, bandoliers, and coats and made themselves as light as they could to run for their lives. The King’s Horse in part giving them as it were law, (like eager greyhounds let out of slips) broke forth into speedy pursuance of them; but the pitiful heart of his Highness Prince Maurice could not brook it to see voluntarily disarmed men exposed to a bloody massacre of the victorious conquerors, wherefore he strictly commanded to receive them to mercy and give them fair quarter, wherein he was obeyed. Many prisoners were brought unto his Highness, whom understanding them to be pressed men, after that by his appointment they had gathered up their own and their horse-mens’ arms which lay thick scattered in the field, and had loaded them in carts, upon Oath never to fight against their Sovereign, he set them free licensing them to repair to their homes. The Kings Armies in this wonderful Victory consisting but of Horse only, and but a handful in comparison of theirs both horse and foot, became hereby absolute Masters of the field, arms, Ordnance, cannons, carriages, and all their ammunition; wherefore this Victory so successfully and seasonably purchased saved or rather won the whole west which then lay at stake.
Notes and comments by AC
Sir John Digby came from Oxford with Lord Wilmot to relieve Devizes. He was Colonel of his own regiment of Horse with some 200 cavalry. This account is important in that it clarifies that;
- Lord Wilmot's brigade, including Sir John Digby's regiment, chased Haselrigge's cuirassers off the whole battle field and down Oliver's castle scarp and it is this chase which Slingsby possibly saw. Lord Byron also chased Waller off the field as far as Oliver's Castle and beyond; it is possible that Slingsby saw only this.
- When Digby had taken the surrender of the Parliamentary cavalry, he saw the Parliamentary "main body of foot to stand on a neighbouring hill in battaglia". This poses the question - Is this hill the one above the present day Leipzig plantation or on the high point of Roundway Down (242m)?? This is a crucial area for understanding the battle field plan. This report does not quite settle the argument.
- Digby's biographer states that Prince Maurice allowed the surrender of the Parliamentary foot after they had thrown down their arms and fled, rather than conduct a slaughter.He ordered the prisoners to collect the arms of Parliament's Horse and Foot. He explicitly accepted that they were pressed men and made them swear an oath to not fight against the King again and orders them to go to their homes. This is the only reference that I know of to state this explicitly.
4) This is an account from Bellum Civile - Sir Ralph Hopton's (Royalist general of forces in Devizes) account of the battle.
His full account, from Bellum Civile of the retreat from Lansdown, the Siege of Devizes and battle of Roundway Down are on a separate web page. Hopton of course saw none of the action as he was half blinded and badly injured. He was in bed in Devizes.
"The next morning (Thursday July 13th) there was notice brought to Sir Ralph Hopton in to his Lodging that the Enemy drew off, and upon inquiry finding that he drew off towards the downs he presently concluded, that the expected succours from Oxford were at hand, and gave order to have all the soldiers in their quarters in readiness to march out. Very shortly after Prince Maurice and Lord Wilmot who were returned with a very gallant party of the King's horse, appeared 3. miles off upon the hills, and having Ordnance with them gave two guns for a warning to the Towne, which was answered again by the Earl of Marlborough from the old Castle where the Train was".
Then again Sir Ralph Hopton, calling the principle Officers to him, propounded to drawe out with the forces they had, the enemy being by that time drawn into Battalio 3 miles from them upon the top of a hill, and the charge (whereof all their horse were fortunately routed) shortly after ensuing. But the major part of the principle Officers apprehending, reasonably enough, that all that was seen might be but a stratagem of Sir Wiliam Waller's to get the forces out of the Town, prevailed with him to delay, until some officers came down from the Prince, who brought assurance that the Enemy's horse were routed and chased, but that the the Foot stood still firm in a body. Hereupon the foot in the Devizes marched out, leaving only ordinary gurads for the cannon and baggage, upon whose approach the enemy's foot break and suffered the execution of the horse.
So Sir William Waller being totally defeated got into Bristol with a few horse, and so passed thence away, and left Bath free to the King's army, which they possessed within few days after".
5) The account of Captain Edward Harley - Waller’s Cavalry - July 15th, 1643 in Bristol.
This was sent to Sir Robert Harley at Westminster. He had fled the Battle of Roundway with Waller and retreated to Bristol.
“….on Sunday 9th of July, they drew out of town (Chippenham) towards us and after 2 hours pause, marched away toward the Devizes. We pursued them and quickly fell upon their rear which held us very good play till they had recovered the Devizes, and the dusk night hindered any further action. That evening I was sent with my own and two other troops to make good a high hill upon our left hand, upon which ground on Monday the 10th we drew up all our army. The army did the like with their horse upon the east side of the town (Coatefields - AC). Sir William Waller commanded our horse to fall upon them, which they would not stay, but presently retreated into Devizes. Our musketeers began then to play hard upon the town, but that night intelligence that the Earl of Crawford was coming with supplies of ammunition Two regiments of horse were ordered to intercept it in the night. A panic fear fell amongst us, and we gave fire upon one another, being in a miserable rout and confusion with much ado we rallied most of our men and advanced to a hill in our way, and there drew up in order for fight; which was no sooner done, we discerned a great body of the enemy in same bottom where we were disordered. We resolved to charge them, Sergeant Major Dowett, who is a very gallant man, took my troop and another, and with them alone charged the enemy when we presently routed and pursued a great way, none of the other troops came to second us, and brought away their ammunition.
Tuesday and Wednesday, our men played on the Devizes, and upon Thursday last it was resolved to storm it, but which way by God’s blessing there is no doubt that we had taken it, …. Presently Sir William Waller drew up all his horse and foot to that hill which I mentioned was good by me. As soon as ever we came, there was a very a very great body of the enemy, which we found afterward to between forty and fifty colours of horse beside dragoons, but at the very first charge all our horse run away and left our foot, who behaved themselves very bravely as long as they were able to defend themselves, and then shifted for themselves. We have not lost many men, considering the miserable rout we were in. All our canon, baggage and ammunition are lost and very many arms. ……… Postscript “Sir, I lost 10 horses and 2 men in the fight last week and this last time I have lost 5 or 6 more so that my troop is now very weak”.
6) Colonel Walter Slingsby's - Royalist Foot in Devizes castle
This account is from Clarendon, but written for him by Slingsby. He was a Royalist Colonel in Lord Mohun's Regiment of Foot. He commanded the skirmish at the ford at Rowde, where he protected the main Horse and other Foot regiments as they retreated to the safety of Devizes castle. They lost 40 men killed. The headings and comments in brackets are put in by Alan Carter.
Retreat of Hopton's army to Devizes via Marshfield and Chippenham
That night we quartered at Marshfield, being Thursday, the same night the enemy draw out of Bath up to Lansdowne again. The next morning being Friday we marched to Chippenham, the same night the enemy steps into our quarters at Marshfield, and now the Country seeing him following us begins to desert us; so that we could get neither meal nor intelligence, two necessary things for an Army.
We lay at Chippenham two nights, but were on Sunday early, frighted from thence by the Enemy’s near approach. We marched to the Devizes, but Waller falls upon our Rear, when it was two miles from the Town; our Horse offered to make the retreat, but after a charge or two, made too much haste to the town. Prince Maurice then ordered my Lord Mohun’s Regiment (then Commanded by your servant) to stay at a ford about a mile from the Town, and to keep that pass till he had drawn up the Army upon the hill by the Town, which was done in half an hour, and then upon the word that Regiment was drawn off, having endured much shot, nothing sheltering them they were exposed too openly, a brook only running betwixt the Enemy and them: that Regiment left odd of forty dead in that place, and carried off 17 wounded, of which Captain Bluett and Lieutenant May were recovered only, though the one shot into the very bosom, the other through the shoulder.
.
Siege of Devizes
The next morning the Enemy faced us with their whole Army upon Roundway down, and we drew into the Town: that afternoon the Enemy draws down his whole Army off the hill, and lies in the Valley betwixt the town and the hill. The same being Monday Prince Maurice, the Marquis Hertford and all the Horse gets safe to Oxford. The next morning Waller draws his whole force close to the Town and beleaguers us round, lying in many places within Carbine (carbine) shot; raised a battery upon a hill near the Town, and then incessantly day and night pours great and small shot into us. There was no better works then hedges, yet had wee so barricaded the Avenues that their Horse could not charge in upon us, neither durst their Foot attempt us, we being almost twice their number, and better Foot.
Our match failed (for matchlock muskets) us and we were forced to use all the bed-cord in the town, which being prepared with rossell (resin, or salt petre) served well. The Lord Crawford was coming with ammunition to us, but was beaten by the way; upon which Waller gives notice of that mischance and offers us Conditions, but not granting them so honorable as we demanded the Treaty was quickly dissolved.
Battle of Roundway Down
Within three days after Prince Maurice and the Lord Wilmot comes to our relief with a good strength of Horse; of which the Enemy gave us notice by his drawing entirely off from the Town and ordering his Army upon Roundway-down.
About two of the clock the kings horse appear; about three they charge the enemy' s vanguard, which was suddenly disordered, by whose help and foul retreat the rest was the
like; so that on a sudden, we could see the Enemy's whole body of horse face about and run with speed, and our horse in close body firing in their rear, till they had chased them down the hill in a steep place, where never horse went down nor up before.
Note: Slingsby may have been on Coatefield Hill (photo below) or in the castle. In any event he could have seen the flight of Haselrige's cavalry across the down, past Leipzig Hill and Roundway Covert (no trees then) If he saw them chased down Oliver's castle or Beacon Hill then he must have been in the castle. The reference to "where never horse went down ..may have been told to him second hand.
Waller went in so much haste that he left all his body of Foot and cannon standing upon the very crown of the hill, who for a while made gallant resistance against our horse, defending themselves in hopes their General would be so mindful of them, as to return into the field and fetch off his Foot and cannon, but perceiving he stayed too long, and that our Cornish Regiments was coming apace upon them, they thought it not so safe to stay for their encounter, and therefore began to move towards the next enclosures hoping to make their retreat; but drawing over the downs, seeing several bodies of our Horse pressing hard upon them on all sides,they began to fall in pieces, and melt into such disorder that they suffered miserably; they were about 1800 in number of which about 600 was then slain, the rest all wounded and taken with their colours and arms, and nine brass piece of cannon.
From hence the King’s Army marched to Bath, which place with some castles and petty garrisons near adjoining was quickly surrendered into our hands. From thence after some days the Army removed to Keynsham, and from thence to the Leaguer of Bristol, lying down on the West side of the City."
Comment: Slingsby was still in Devizes with the Royalist infantry, or possibly by this stage had moved to the vantage point of Coatefield Hill, and for him to see the cavalry action from either position the Royalist and Parliamentary cavalry must have been engaged on Roundway Hill itself. What Slingsby could see was the concluding part of the main cavalry action for as the troopers of Byron's brigade and then the fight between the cavalry and the parliamentary Foot.
Colonel Slingsby''s full account of battles of Lansdowne and Roundway Down are at Lansdowne and Roundway Down
7) Lord Byrons Royalist General's account - the most detailed that we have.
Wilmot on Roundway Down, although outnumbered and lacking any infantry support, had deployed his cavalry in an attack formation of three brigades. The brigades were commanded by Wilmot, Byron, and Crawford and they were probably in echelon with Wilmot leading on the left flank, supported by Byron, and with Crawford (recently defeated in the night skirmish) in reserve.
As Lord Byron relates only his and Wilmot's brigades were to participate in the opening attacks:
"It was resolved that we should immediately march towards them, and my Lord Wilmot very discreetly ordered it, that only his brigade & mine should charge (which both together made not above 1200 horse), and that the other troops, (because they had lately taken an affright & had been put to the worse by Waller's men), should only stand as a reserve, and not be employed till it should please God to renew their courage with our success, as we marched towards the rebels."
The Royalists had much the better of the clash of forlorn hopes and Hesilrige's regiment of cavalry moved forward to support the retreating Parliamentarian forlorn hope of horse. This advance triggered the main cavalry actions of the battle
.... "they send down some troops towards us, which were gallantly encountered by Sgt. Major Paul Smith (who led our forlorn hope, consisting of 300 commanded men), and forced them to turn their backs. Sir Arthur Hazelrig seconded these with his formidable regiment of lobsters (sic), I mean his cuirassiers whom the Lieut. General intervened with his brigade, and forced them to retreat, not so, but that they rallied themselves again and charged the second time, but with worse success; for then my brigade being drawn up to second my Lord Wilmot, they all ran away that could, and from that time Sir Arthur Haselrigge appeared no more in the battle"
According to Byron, therefore, Haselrige's first charge, made independently of Waller, was met and turned back by Wilmot's brigade. Hasilrige then advanced again only to be turned back once more; this time decisively for his regiment fled from the field. Wilmot's initial charge was thus in response to an advance by the Parliamentarian cavalry. Byron's brigade was not involved in this first clash and appears to have only joined the periphery of the action when Hesilrige charged a second time. Wilmot's success was due to the fact that he responded promptly to Hasilrige's initial movement and because his brigade overlapped the Parliamentarian cavalry when the opposing ranks met.According to Lord Byron, Waller, with Hesilrige's troopers leaving the field, now advanced with the remainder of his army:
"upon this Waller drew his whole army down the hill, and advanced with his own brigade of horse, with two pieces of cannon before it, and two great bodies of foot on the left flank of it, these it fell to my share to charge with my brigade, my Lord Wilmot meanwhile rallying his men together to second me if occasion should be. As I marched towards them up the hill, their cannon played upon me at a very near distance, but with very small loss, killing but two in Colonel Sandyes regiment; the musketeers all this while played upon our flank, and hurt & killed some; and another regiment of their horse was watching an opportunity to charge us either in the rear or in the flank, but were hindered by Lord Crawford."
Ignoring the fire of the Parliamentary artillery and musketeers, Byron's troopers advanced against Waller's brigade of cavalry. They were supported by Wilmot's brigade which was in the act of re-grouping and at a critical moment, when it seemed as though fresh Parliamentary cavalry might intervene, by Crawford's brigade. The action was hard fought but the fire discipline of Byron's men carried the day:
"By this time we were come very near to Waller's brigade, and the command I gave my men was, that not a man should discharge his pistol till the enemy had spent all his shot, which was punctually observed, so that first they gave us a volley of their carbines, then of their pistols, and then we fell in with them, and gave them ours in their teeth, yet they would not quit their ground, but stood pushing for it a pretty space, till it pleased God, (I thinke) to put new spirit into our tired horse as well as into our men, so that though it were up the hill, and that a steep one, we overbore them, and with that violence, that we forced them to fall foul upon other reserves of horse that stood behind to second them, and so swept their whole body of horse out of the field."
Byron pursued the survivors of Waller's cavalry across Roundway Hill, finally driving them down the gullies by Oliver's Castle. "and pursued them near 3 miles over the downs in Bristol way till they came to a precipice, where their fear made them so valiant that they galloped as if it had been plain ground, and many of them break both their own and their horses' necks".
With Waller's brigade virtually destroyed and Hesilrige's cavalry scattered in flight, Byron was able to gather those of his troopers within hailing range and return to Roundway Hill where Wilmot was failing to make any impression on the now isolated Parliamentarian infantry:
"In my return from the chase I took two pieces of their cannon, and divers waggons laden with ammunition, and then rallied together our scattered troops, which were as much broken as the enemy, by reason of their hot pursuit, in the meantime my Lord Wilmot charged their foot with the horse he had with him, but could not break them, and in the charge Dudley Smith was slain, and Lieutenant Colonel Weston, hurt and many others."
"but when they saw my horse rallied together again before them, & the Lieut. Gen. continuing still in the rear of them, and that the Cornish foot began to sally out of the town, they thought it not
fit to stay any longer. They began first gently to march off, their officer marching before them,
amongst which (as I have been told since) Sir W. W. himself was, & Popham. With that I
advanced towards them with those troops I had rallied, & shot at them with the cannon I had
formerly taken, their officers thought it not fit to stay any longer, but such as had horses rid
away as fast as they could, & too fast for us to overtake them, & the rest blew up their powder
& threw down their arms & betook themselves to their heels, our horse fell in amongst them
& killed 600 of them, & hurt many more, and took 800 prisoners & all their colours, & this
was the success of their great conqueror".
8) Captain Richard Atkyn's (Royalist cavalry) - account written 15 years after the battle including his fight and wounding of Sir Arthur Haselrige
"The next morning (July 13th 1643) I had orders that the rendezvous was about Marlborough whither I went with several horse quartered at Farringdon, and came timely thither; the Lord Wilmot was sent with a recruit of horse from Oxford, and I suppose all the horse at that rendezvous were about 1800 and 2 small pieces of cannon; we lost no time,marched toward the enemy, who stood towards the top of the hill; the foot in the middle between two wings of horse, and the cannon before the foot; there were 4 hills like the four corners of die, in such a champaign, as 40,000 men might fight in. Upon one of the hills we discharged our cannon to give notice to our foot that we were come to their relief; then forlorn-hopes out of each army were drawn out, and the Lord Wilmot’s Major, Paul Smith commanded ours, who did it with that gallantry that he beat them into the very body of their left wing and put them out of order; which we took advantage of, and immediately charged the whole body; the charge was so sudden that I had hardly time to put on my arms, we advance a full trot 3 deep, and kept in order; the enemy kept their station’ and their right wing of horse being cuirassiers, were I’m sure 5, if not 6 deep in so close order that Punchinello himself had he been there could not have gotten into them.
All the horse on the left hand of Prince Maurice his regiment, had none to charge; we charging the very utmost a man of their right wing; I cannot better compare the figure of both armies to the map of the fight at sea, between the English and the Spanish Armadas, (only there was no half moon) for though they were above twice our numbers; they being 6 deep in close order and we but 3 deep, and open (by reason of our sudden charge) we were without them at both ends; the cannoneers seeing our resolution did not fire their cannon. No men ever charged better that ours did that day, especially the Oxford horse, for ours were tired and scattered yet those that were there did their best.
My engagement with Sir Arthur Haselrige
T’was my fortune in a direct line to charge their general of Horse which I supposed to be so by his place; he discharged his carbine first, but at distance not to hurt us, and afterwards one of his pistols before I cam up to him, and missed with both; I then immediately struck into him, and touched him before I discharged mine; and I am sure I hit him, for he staggered and presently wheeled off from his party and ran.
Here I must desire the readers to be very particular in this relation because twenty several persons have entitled themselves to this action and a Knight (possibly Sir Robert Welsh) that shall be nameless, that is dead (speaking of his great services and small rewards to me) told me the very ensuing story himself, all but that he could not give so good reason as I could, why it was Sir Arthur Haslerigge. When he wheeled off, I pursued him and had not gone 20 yards after him, but I heard a voice saying, “’tis Sir Arthur Haslerigge follow him”; but from which party the voice came I knew not they being joined, nor never did know ‘til about 7 years since, but I follow him I did, and in 6 score yards I came up to him and discharged the other pistol at him, and I am sure I hit his head, for I touched it before I gave fire, and it amazed him at that present , but he was too well armed all over for a pistol bullet to do him any hurt having a coat of mail over his arms and a headpiece (I am confident) musket proof his sword had 2 edges and a ridge in the middle and mine was mine was a strong tuck; After I had slackened my pace a little he was gone 20 yards form me, riding three quarters speed and riding down the side of a hill, his posture was waving his sword on the right and left hand of his horse, not looking back to see whether he were pursued or not, (as I conceive) to daunt any horse that should come up to him; in about 6 score more I cam up to him again (having a very swift horse that Cornet Washnage gave me) and stuck by him a good while and tried him from head to the saddle and could not penetrate him or do him any hurt; but in this attempt he cut my horses nose, that you might put your finger in the wound and gave me such a blow on the inside of my arm amongst the veins that I could hardly hold my sword’ he went on as before and I slackened my pace again and found my horse drop blood and not so bold as before; but 8 score more I got up to him again thinking to have pulled off his horse; but he now having found the way, struck my horse upon the cheek and cut of half the headstall of my bridle, but falling off from him I ran his horse into the body and resolved to attempt to attempt nothing further than to kill his horse; all this time we were together hand and fist.
In the nick of time up came Mr. Holmes (Atkyn’s cornet) who never failed me in times of danger, and went up to him with great resolution, and felt him before he discharged his pistol, and though I saw him hit him, ‘twas but a flea-biting to him; which while he charged him I employed myself killing his horse, and ran him into several places nd pon the faltering of his horse is headpiece opened behind, and I gave him a rick in the neck, and had run him through the head if my horse had not stumbled at the same place; then came in Captain Buck a gentleman of my troop, and discharged his pistol on him also, but with the same success as before, and being a very strong man and charging with a mighty hanger (cutlass) stormed him and amazed him, but fell off again; by this time his horse began to faint with bleeding, and fell off from his rate, at which said Sir Arthur, “what good will it do you to kill a poor man?” Said I “take quarter then”, with that he stopped his horse and came up to him and bid him deliver his sword which he was loathe to do; and being tied twice about his wrist, he was fumbling a great while before he would part with it; but before he delivered it there was a runaway troop of theirs that espied him in hold; says one of them “ My Lord General is taken prisoner”; says another “ Sir Arthur Haslerigge is taken prisoner, face about and charge”, with that they rallied an charged us, and rescued him; wherein I received a shot with a pistol which only took off the skin upon the blade bone of my shoulder". ............. "When we came back to the army (which in so confused a field was difficult to do) we found the enemy's foot still in a close body, their muskets lined with pikes, and fronting every way, expecting their horse to rally and come to their relief; in the mean time our horse charged them, but to no purpose, they could not get into them. At last when they saw our foot march from Devizes, and come within a mile of them, they asked quarter, and threw down their armes in a moment. We lost few men (especially of quality) and they many. Sir James Hamilton was very much hurt and Lieutenant Colonel Molesworth (Atkyn's Colonel) went to Oxford; by whose absence I commanded the regiment-in-chief."
9) Edward Hyde, Lord Clarendon History of the Great Rebellion - Siege of Devizes and Battle of Roundway Down.
Clarendon was a Royalist and Chancellor. This version is slightly abbreviated and spellings have been modernised. Headings in bold have been added by Alan Carter to aid reading. Although Clarendon was not present at Roundway Down, he, because of his national importnace, can be considered to give a "definitive" if self serving view of the Royalist side of the battles
The full unedited E book at Google books Clarendon volume 4 (this opens in a new window)
After the battle of Lansdown, which was a stalemate, with the Royalists suffering more casualties, the Royalist move to Marshfield, Chippenham and on to Devizes
After a day's rest at Marshfield, it being understood that Sir William Waller was still at Bath, (his army having been rather surprised and discomforted with the incredible boldness of the Cornish foot, than much weakened by the number slain, which was not greater than on the king's part,) and that he had sent for fresh supply from Bristol; it was concluded, rather to march to Oxford, and so to join with the king's army, than to stay and attend the enemy, who was so near his supplies: and so they marched towards Chippenham. But when Sir William Waller had intelligence of the blowing up of the powder, of which he well knew there was scarcely enough before, and of the hurt it had done, he infused new spirit into his men; and verily believed that they had no ammunition, and that the loss of Sir Ralph Hopton (whom the people took to be the soul of that army, the other names, being not so much spoken of, or so well known, and at this time believed to be dead) would be found in the spirits of the soldiers; and having gotten some fresh men from Bristol, and more from the inclinations of the three counties of Wilts, Gloucester, and Somerset, which joined about Bath, in the most absolute disaffected parts of all three, he followed the Marquis towards Chippenham ; to which he was as near from Bath, as the other from Marshfield.
The next day, early in the morning, upon notice that the enemy was in distance, the Prince and the Marquis drew back the army through Chippenham, and presented themselves in battalia to the enemy. Some sharp skirmishing takes place, we being very well contented to fight in such a place, where the success was to depend more on their foot, who were unquestionably excellent, than on their horse, which were at best weary, though their officers were, to envy, forward and resolute. But Sir William Waller, who was a right good chooser of advantages, liked not that ground; relying as much upon his horse, who had gotten credit and courage, and as little upon his foot, who were only well armed, and well bodied, very vulgarly spirited, and officered : so that having stood all night in battalia, and the enemy not coming on, the Prince and Marquis, the next day, advanced towards the Devizes.
Sir Nicholas Slanning, with great spirit and prudence, securing the rear with strong parties of musketeers; with which he gave the enemy, who pressed upon them very smartly, so much interruption, that Sir William Waller, despairing of overtaking, sent a trumpet to the Marquis, with a letter, offering a pitched field at a place of his own choosing, out of the way. The which being easily understood to be only a stratagem to beget a delay in the march, the Marquis carried the trumpet three or four miles with him, and then sent him back with such an answer as was fit. There were, all this day, perpetual and sharp skirmishes in the rear; the enemy pressing very hard, and being always with loss repulsed, till the army safely reached the Devizes.
Siege of Devizes and Royalist horse break out to Oxford to get reinforcements
Then the case was altered for their retreat to Oxford, the enemy being upon them with improvement of courage, and improvement of numbers; Sir William Waller having dispersed his warrants over the country, signifying that he had beaten the Marquis, and requiring the people to rise in all places for the apprehension of his scattered and dispersed troops; which confidence, men conceived, could not proceed from less than a manifest victory; and so they flocked to him as the master of the field. The foot were no more now to make the retreat, the situation of the place they were now in, being such as they could move no way towards Oxford, but over a campaign of many miles, where the stronger in horse (ie Parliament at this stage) must needs prevail.
Hereupon, it was unanimously advised, and consented to, that the Lord Marquis and Prince Maurice should that night break through, with all the horse, to Oxford; and that Sir Ralph Hopton (who, by this, was supposed past danger of death, and could hear and speak well enough, though he could not see or stir) with the Earl of Marlborough, who was general of the artillery, the Lord Mohun, and other good officers of foot, should stay there with their foot and cannon, where it was hoped they might defend themselves, for a few days, till the General might return with relief from Oxford ; which was not above thirty miles off. This resolution was pursued; and, the same night, all the horse got safe away into the king's quarters, and the Prince and Marquis, in the morning, came to Oxford.
By which time Sir William Waller had drawn all his forces about the Devizes. The town was open, without the least fortification or defence, but small ditches and hedges; upon which the foot were placed, and some pieces of cannon conveniently planted. The avenues, which were many, were quickly barricaded to hinder the entrance of the horse, which was principally apprehended. Sir William Waller had soon notice of the remove of the horse; and therefore, intending that pursuit no farther, he brought his whole force close to the town, and beleaguered it round; and having raised a battery upon a hill near the town, he poured in his shot upon it without intermission, and attempted to enter in several other places with horse, foot, and cannon; but was in all places more resolutely resisted, and repulsed.
At the same time, having intelligence (as his intelligence was always most exact in whatsoever concerned him) of the Earl of Crawford's marching with a supply of powder, according to order, after the first notice of the battle of Lansdown, he sent a strong party of horse and dragoons to intercept him; who, before he knew of the alterations which had happened, and of the remove of the horse towards Oxford, was so far engaged, that he hardly escaped with the loss of his ammunition, and a troop or two of his horse.
Upon this improvement of his success, Sir William Waller reckoned his victory out of question; and thereupon sent a trumpet into the town to summon the besieged, to let them know, that he had cut off their relief, and that their state was now desperate; and therefore advised them to submit themselves to the Parliament, with whom he would mediate on their behalf. They in the town were not sorry for the overture; not that they apprehended it would produce any conditions they should accept, but that they might gain some time of rest by it: for the straits they were in were too great for any minds not prepared to preserve their honour at any rates.
When the enemy came first before the town, and the guards were supplied with ammunition for their duty, there was but one hundred and fifty weight of match left in the store; whereupon diligent officers were directed to search every house in the town, and to take all the bed cords they could find, and to cause them to be speedily beaten, and boiled. By this sudden expedient, there was, by the next morning, provided fifteen hundred weight of such serviceable match, as very well endured that sharp service. Then the compass of the ground they were to keep was so large, and the enemy pressed so hard upon all places, that their whole body were upon perpetual duty together, neither officer or soldier having any time for rest; and the activity of the chief officers was most necessary to keep up the courage of the common men, who well enough understood the danger they were in, and therefore they were very glad of this message ; and returned, that they would send an officer to treat, if a cessation were agreed to during the time of the treaty ; which was consented to, if it were suddenly expedited.
Pages 122 /123
On the party of the besieged were proposed such terms, as might take up most time in the debate, and might imply courage and resolution to hold out. Sir William Waller, on the other hand, offered only quarter, and civil usage to the officers, and leave to the common soldiers to return to their houses without their arms, except they would voluntarily choose to serve the Parliament. These being terms many of the officers would not have submitted to in the latest extreme, the treaty ended; after those in the town had gained what they only looked for, seven or eight hours sleep, and so long time sparing of ammunition. The truth is, Sir William Waller was so confident that they were at his mercy, that he had written to the Parliament, that their work was done, and that, by the next post, he would send the number and quality of his prisoners ; neither did he imagine it possible that any relief could have been sent from Oxford; the Earl of Essex, to whom he had signified his success, and the posture he was in, lying with his whole army at Thame, within ten miles of it.
The King sends Lord Wilmot from Oxford to relieve Devizes and the Battle of Roundway Down
But the importance was too well understood by the King to omit any thing, that might, with the utmost hazard, be attempted for the redeeming those men, who had wrought such wonders for him. And therefore, as soon as the Marquis and Prince arrived at Oxford, with the sad and unexpected news, and relation of the distress of their friends, though the queen was then on her march towards Oxford, and the King had appointed to meet her two days' journey for her security, his Majesty resolved to take only his own guards of horse, and Prince Rupert's regiment, for that expedition; and sent the Lord Wilmot with all the rest of the horse, to march that very day, in which the advertisement came to him, towards the Devizes . So that the Marquis and the Prince coming to Oxford on the Monday morning, the Lord Wilmot, that night, moved towards the work ; and Prince Maurice returning with him as a volunteer, but the Lord Wilmot commanding in chief, appeared, on the Wednesday about noon, upon the plain within two miles of the town. The Lord Wilmot had with him fifteen hundred horse, and no more, and two small field-pieces, which he shot off, to give the town notice of his coming ; having it in his hopes, that, it being a fair campaign about the town, when the enemy should rise from before it, he should be able in spite of them to join with the foot, and so to have a fair field for it; which would be still disadvantageous enough, the enemy being superior by much in horse, very few of those who had broken away from the Devizes (except the Prince himself, the Earl of Carnarvon, and some other officers) being come up with them, partly because they were tired, and dispersed; and partly because it was not desired to have many of those who might have their old terror still upon them.(i.e. Earl of Crawford’s men, who were there but kept in reserve AC).
The Battle of Roundway Down
The enemy, careful to prevent the joining of this party of horse with the foot, and fully advertised of their coming, drew off, on all parts, from the town; and put themselves in battalia upon the top of a fair hill, called Roundway-down ; over which the king's forces were necessarily to march, being full two miles off the town. They within (Devizes) conceived it hardly possible, that the relief, they expected from Oxford, could so soon arrive; all the messengers, who were sent to give notice of it, having miscarried by the closeness of the siege; and therefore suspected the warning pieces from the plain, and the drawing off the town by the enemy, to be a stratagem to cozen the foot from those posts they defended, into the open field. And so, very reasonably, being in readiness to march, [they] waited a surer evidence, that their friends were at hand; which shortly arrived ; and assured them, that the Prince was by, and expected them.
It will be easily conceived, with what alacrity they advanced; but Sir William Waller had purposely chose that ground to hinder that conjunction, and advanced so fast on the Lord Wilmot, that without such shifts and traverses, as might give his men some apprehension, he could not expect the foot from the town; and therefore he put his troops in order upon that ground to expect the enemy's charge, who were somewhat more than musket shot off in order of battle.
Sir William Waller, out of pure gaiety, departed from an advantage he could not again recover. For being in excellent order of battle, with strong wings of horse to his foot, and a good reserve placed, and his cannon usefully planted, apprehending still the conjunction between the horse and the foot in the town, and gratifying his enemy with the same contempt, which had so often brought inconveniences upon them, and discerning their number inferior to that he had before (as he thought) mastered, he marched, with his whole body of horse, from his foot, to charge the enemy. He appointed Sir Arthur Haselrigge with his cuirassiers apart, to make the first impression; who was encountered by Sir John Byron, in whose regiment the Earl of Carnarvon charged as a volunteer; and after a sharp conflict, in which Sir Arthur Haselrigge received many wounds, that impenetrable regiment was routed, and, in a full career, chased upon their other horse. And at the same time, the Lord Wilmot charging them from division to division, as they were ranged, in half an hour, so sudden alterations the accidents of war introduce, the whole entire body of the triumphant horse were so totally routed and dispersed, that there was not one of them to be seen upon that large spacious down; every man shifting for himself with greater danger by the precipices of that hill, than he could have undergone by opposing his pursuer. But as it was an unhappy ground to fly, so it was as ill for the pursuer. After the rout more perished by falls and bruises from their horses, down the precipices than by the sword.
The (Parliamentary) foot stood still firm, making show of a gallant resistance. But the Lord Wilmot quickly seized their cannon, and turned them upon them. At the same time that the Cornish foot, who were by this come from the town, were ready likewise to charge them; upon which their hearts failed; and so they were charged on all sides, and either killed, or taken prisoners, very few escaping. The Cornish foot retaining too fresh a memory of their late distresses and revenging themselves of those who had contributed the least thereunto. Sir William Waller himself, with a small train, fled into Bristol, which had sacrificed a great part of their garrison in his defeat; and so were even ready to expire at his entry into the town, himself bringing the first news of his disaster.
Number of dead, prisoners and goods captured
This glorious day, for it was a day of triumph, redeemed the king's whole affairs, so that all clouds that shadowed them seemed to be dispelled, and a bright light of success to shine over the whole kingdom. There were in this battle slain, on the enemy's part, above six hundred on the place; nine hundred prisoners taken, besides two or three hundred retaken and redeemed, whom they had gathered up in the skirmishes and pursuit; with all their cannon, being eight pieces of brass ordnance; all their arms, ammunition, wagons, baggage., and victual; eight and twenty foot ensigns, and nine cornets.
And all this by a party of fifteen hundred horse, with two small field-pieces. For the victory was perfect, upon the matter, before the Cornish foot came up (from Devizes); though the foot were suffered to stand in a body uncharged, out of ceremony, till they came; that they might be refreshed with a share in the conquest. Against a body of full two thousand horse, five hundred dragoons, and near three thousand foot, with an excellent train of artillery. So that the Cornish had great reason to think their deliverance, and victory at Roundway, more signal and wonderful than the other at Stratton, save that the first might be thought the parent of the latter, and the loss on the King's party was less; for in this there were slain very few; and, of name, none but Dudley Smith, an honest and valiant young gentleman; who was always a volunteer with the Lord Wilmot, and among the first upon any action of danger.
The defeat caused enmity between Essex and Waller
Besides the present fruit of this victory, the king received an advantage from the jealousy, that, from thence, grew among the officers of the Parliament armies. For Sir William Waller believed himself to be absolutely betrayed, and sacrificed by the Earl of Essex, out of envy at the great things he had done, which seemed to eclipse his glories ; and complained, that he, lying with his whole army within ten miles of Oxford, should suffer the whole strength of that place to march thirty miles to destroy him, without so much as sending out a party to follow them, or to alarm Oxford, by which they would have been probably recalled. On the other hand, the Earl, disdaining to be thought his rival, reproached the other with unsoldierly neglects, and want of courage, to be beaten by a handful of men, and to have deserted his foot and cannon, without engaging his own person in one charge against the enemy. Wherever the fault was, it was never forgiven ; but, from the enmity that proceeded from thence, the king often afterwards reaped very notable and seasonable advantages; which will be remembered in their places.
Bristol to be taken by Royalists
After which defeat, the Lord Wilmot retired to Oxford to attend his Majesty; and the Cornish army (for that name it deservedly kept still, though it received so good an increase by the Marquis and Prince's joining with them) drew back, and possessed themselves of Bath, which was quitted, upon the overthrow of Waller; that garrison being withdrawn to reinforce Bristol. At Bath they rested, and refreshed themselves, till they might receive new orders from the king; who, upon full advice, and consideration of the state he was in, and the broken condition of the enemy, resolved to make an attempt upon the city of Bristol; to which Prince Rupert was most inclined, for being disappointed in a former design; and where there were many well affected to the King's service from the beginning, and more since the execution of those two eminent citizens. And the disesteem generally of the courage of Nathaniel Fiennes, the governor, made the design to be thought the more reasonable; and so the Marquis and Prince Maurice returned to Bath, upon agreement to appear, on such a day, with their whole strength, before Bristol, on the Somersetshire side, when Prince Rupert with the Oxford forces would appear before it, on the Gloucestershire side.
10) Accounts of the number of deaths and captured
The Parliamentary forces gave their own losses as lower than did the Royalists. Waller stated that
"We have lost only fifty horse (cavalrymen), and at the most two hundred common soldiers slaine, and taken prisoners about five hundred armes (men). No man of note killed or hurt, only Sir Arthur Haselerigge who received a wound in is arme, and an hurt in his ear, but not dangerous: he fought very bravely. We know we killed many of their best men, but not known to us by name, because we lost the field."
Lords Byron and Wilmot, the Royalist commander, has stated we "killed 600 of them, and hurt many more, and took 800 prisoners and all their colours".
Comment We shall never know the accurate figures but the number of slain is probably closer to the 600 royalist figure.
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