The capture of rebel guns at
Banbury by Spencer Compton, the Earl of Northampton, on Monday 8th
August 1642
Letters written
by Sir James Compton following the death of his father, to Prince
Rupert and to his widowed mother, in late March 1643
Letter to Prince Rupert following the Earl of
Northampton's victory at Middleton Cheney, Saturday 6th May 1643
A duel near
Banbury involving an Officer of the Banbury Garrison on Wednesday
31st July
1644
An attempted assault on the besieged Banbury
Garrison by rebel troops on Monday 23rd September 1644
The relief of the Siege of
Banbury Castle, Friday 25th October 1644, by forces under the Earl
of Northampton
An attempt to recapture the Compton family
home of Compton Wynyates from rebel occupants on 30th January 1645
An attack on a rebel supply
convoy by the Earl of Northampton's Regiment, 6th March 1645
A skirmish at Kingsthorpe near
Northampton on Tuesday 18th March 1645, involving the four eldest
Compton brothers
A skirmish at Islip near Oxford between
Cromwell and the Earl of Northampton, on Thursday 24th April 1645,
and the regrouping of the King's forces at Oxford
An account of the capture of rebel guns at
Banbury by Spencer Compton, the Earl of Northampton, on Monday 8th
August 1642
In July 1642 Parliament granted Lord Brooke,
rebel neighbour to the Earl of Northampton, six pieces of ordnance
to strengthen Warwick Castle. These were delivered to Colonel John
Fiennes, Governor of Banbury (then under Parliament control) on 29th
July. Lord Brooke then rode with an escort that night from Warwick
to collect them, but a Royalist agent in Lord Brooke's ranks slipped
away and returned to Warwick to warn Lord Northampton (who was
conducting a recruitment rally in Warwick on 30th July) of Lord
Brooke's actions. Lord Northampton took his troops and blocked Lord
Brooke's return to Warwick, refusing to allow the guns to be taken
any further. After much parleying, Lord Brooke (who was outnumbered)
agreed to take the guns back to Banbury, and that neither party must
remove them without giving the other three days notice. Lord Brooke
then hastily returned to London. A week later Lord Northampton moved
against Banbury in order to capture the guns. A rebel scout
discovered the Royalists coming down Hardwick Lane to Banbury on
Sunday night, 7th August, but because of the extreme dark both sides
stood their ground until the following morning. The following
account picks up the story:
The town being in a sad case, not knowing how
they would deal with them, exposed themselves and town on Munday
morning, and...they came in with about 5 or 600 horses, but 300 good
ones, and the rest sorry jades, anything [they] could get
from the poor countrey men...; and as beggarly riders set on them,
though for the present they flourished with money, yet their clothes
bewrayed them to be neither gentlemen nor Cavaliers. And having
fil'd the town with horses the chief of them came to the Red Lion
Inne, and desired to speak with Colonell Feines and Captaine Vivers,
who were in the castle, to whom reply was made, they should...: then
they produced the Commission of Array, and required them to deliver
the Ordnance, otherwise they would take them by force and fire the
town, And having obtained what they came for...they clear'd the town
againe, and were all departed before night, who carried them to the
E. of Northampton's house [Compton Wynyates] , and it was
thought they intended to go to Warwick castle the next day, but the
Lord Brooke had noe notice from the Earle of three dayes warning, as
was agreed between them; There was also Colonell Lunsford, and
divers Lords too long to name; There was the Lord Wilmot who kept
back the town of Atherbury [Adderbury] from coming in to aid
Banbury, and threatned he would hang up the men and send the
souldiers to their wives and children.
Proceedings at Banbury since the Ordnance went
down for the Lord Brooke to fortifie Warwick Castle, 1642, among
the King's pamphlets in the British Museum.
The following day Lord Northampton did indeed
take the guns to Warwick and laid siege to the town for two weeks,
during which one of the guns exploded and nearly killed one of
Spencer Compton's sons. The siege of Warwick was hastily abandoned
on 22nd August when Lord Brooke arrived with a strong relief force.
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A letter from Sir James Compton on the death of his father, to
Prince Rupert
The Second Earl was killed at the Battle of Hopton
Heath on 19th March 1643, and shortly afterwards his eldest son Sir James wrote
the following letter to
Prince Rupert to offer his continued support to the King's cause:
Sir,
I thought it my Dutie, affaires standing as they do and I
untimely having an unwisht for honour fallen uppon me by ye
unfortunate death of my father ye Earle of Northampton, to let your
Highness understand how his military commands at this present
stands. Hee was raising a regiment of horse, and had allready raised
three troupes besides his owne, two of whiche were here
[Stafford] present at the battell, the other was sent back from
Henley in Arden to Banbury, for ye securitie of that garrison
whereof ye Earle of Northampton was governor; his foote regiment,
excepting some commanded men, being left there for ye defence of ye
towne and Castle. If it shall please his Matie and your Highness to
confer these commands whiche were my fathers on mee, none shall bee
more willing to do his Matie service (according to my weake
abilities). With life and fortune I will not trouble your Highness
with ye relation of what hath passed being you will heare by better
hands in all particulars, so craving pardon for my boldness in
troubling you, I shall alwais remain Your Highness most humble and
faithfull servant,
Northampton.
British Library (ref. MSS 18, 980)
A letter from Sir James Compton to his widowed mother on 22nd
March 1643
Deare Mother,
On Sunday last we got the day of the Rebels; but our losse
(especially your Honours and mine) is not to be expressed, for
though it be a generall losse to the Kingdome, yet it toucheth us
nearest. But Madam, Casualties in the world will happen, & in such a
cause who would not have ventured both life and fortune? Pray'e
Madam, let this be your comfort, that it was impossible for any to
do braver than he did, as appeares by [the rebels'] owne
Relation...His Armour was so good that they could not hurt him till
he was downe, and had undone his head-peece. Pray'e Madam, be
comforted; and think no man could more honourably have ended this
life...to be partaker of heavenly joies. We must certainely follow
him, but can hardly hope for so brave a death. Thus humbly craving
your blessing, I shall remaine till death your obedient Sonne,
Northampton
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A Letter to Prince Rupert following the Earl
of Northampton's victory at Middleton Cheney, Saturday 6th May 1643
The Banbury Garrison frequently skirmished with rebel troops from
the Northampton garrison. The following letter, written to Prince
Rupert, refers to the battle of Middleton Cheney, just two miles to
the east of Banbury:
May it please your Highness,
I have received a command from my Lord of Northampton to have
waited on your Highness if you were in town, if elsewhere to
dispatch one presently to attend your Highness with an account of
his yesterday's action; there came towards Banbury from Northampton
four troops of horse, six or seven hundred foot, one piece of cannon
of six pound bullet, all which came within half a mile of the town
of Banbury.
My Lord having only thirteen troops of horse with him,
resolved to charge them, in which it hath pleased God that my Lord
hath taken three hundred prisoners, killed above a hundred in the
place, wounded most of the rest, took the cannon, all the
ammunition, as many arms gathered up as four carts could bring, all
which is in Banbury; all the foot officers take or slain, but the
horse as usually, made haste away, yet many of them came short home:
my Lord lost not of all his company above three men, so, humbly
taking leave, I rest, Sir
Your Highness's most humble servant.
Philip Willoughby
Oxford 7th May 1643
7 o'clock in the morning
A rebel account claimed that three shots from their drake killed
30 Royalists and unhorsed the young Earl of Northampton. It was also
alleged that most of the rebel prisoners were "shrewdly hurt, the
young Earl that day sacrificing to the memory of his father".
What is certain is that 46 rebels were buried at Middleton Cheney
church on Sunday 7th May 1643. In addition the victory persuaded
local gentry to supply the Banbury Garrison with two troops of horse
and 200 dragoons, just three days later.
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An account of a duel
near Banbury involving an Officer of the Banbury Garrison on Wednesday July 31st 1644
The following comes from Mercurius Aulicus. A troop of The
Earl of Northampton’s horse was set upon by a body of
Parliamentarians, and the two troops rather than fight issued a
challenge that their leaders should have a duel which would save
unnecessary bloodshed.
But though a few at Basing chased such a numerous body of
Rebells, yet the Rebels of Northampton will fall to it one by one,
and performe a Duell rather than not Rebell. For yesterday 40 of
those Rebels Horse (Commanded by one Captaine Clark) brew up betwixt
Nethercote and Banbury, and faced the Towne, which caused Lieutenant
Middleton (of the Earle of Northampton’s Regiment) to draw out the
like number; who facing one another, there presently grew a
challenge betwixt the Two Commanders, that their men should stand at
distance and they try it out themselves. This being accepted, the
Two Commanders encountered one another, but neither of their
pistolls taking fire, they fell instantly to the sword, whereat
Lieutenant Middleton seemed the better Souldier; which Captaine
Clark perceiving, he laboured to get off, and therefore for a
farewell flung his Pistoll at the Lieutenant, and rode away: but the
Lieutenant pursued, and with his sword ran Clark into the backe, and
had brought him off, but that three of Clarks party suddenly came in
to his rescue. This wound was pretended by Captaine Clark to be very
dangerous, if not mortall; whereupon he sent a Trumpet that
afternoone to Banbury, to let them know it was altogether against
his will that his men rescued him; affirming, that hee had rather
have dyed upon the place by Lieutenant Middletons hand, then thus to
suffer in his reputation. So ‘tis a dishonour for the Captaine to be
rescued, though it were none to run away.
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An account of an attempted assault on the besieged Banbury
Garrison by rebel troops on Monday 23rd September 1644
The following is a contemporary Royalist account reproduced in
Beesley's
The History of Banbury published in 1841. The Banbury
Garrison, under the command of Lt Col Anthony Greene and Major
William Compton, had been under siege within Banbury Castle since
25th August. Over the next month the rebel besiegers bombarded the
castle doing severe damage and causing a major breach but failed to
defeat the garrison, who kept sallying out on horseback to attack
rebel foot troops. An attempt was made by the rebels to assault the
castle on 23rd September:
About 9 of the clocke that morning they began to fall on.
Their foote had beene so banged by continuall sallyes that they were
not hardy enough for this service; therefore they hired Troopers to
lead them on, 12 out of each company, with their best officers.
These were to have £300 (as was confest) for their paines. The
number of assaylants was about 1000. They came on with burdens of
furrs on their backes, which they cast into the Mote the better to
passe the mud, and so assaulted it in 5 severall places at once. The
greatest number were on that side where the breach was; on
all other partes they brought ladders, but the courageous defendants
never suffered them to reare so much as one ladder, but cut them off
with great and small shot, which was sent among them like haile...
Towards evening that day they [the rebels] sent a
trumpet to desire the bodies of their dead, which was granted upon
condition that those which had fallen within pistoll shot of the
Castle should be stript by those of the garrison and delivered naked
in the Market place; which was done accordingly. All Tuesday last
[24th September] they spent in solemnizing the burials of
their dead with drumms, trumpets, vollies of shot and now and then a
Psalme...they were much broken as they expressed at their funeralls,
having lost so many of their best officers. Themselves have
acknowledged above 300 slaine and wounded...
Only 9 of the Banbury Garrison were lost, and the garrison
collected weaponry from 120 bodies, plus the scaling ladders.
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An Account of the Relief of the Siege of Banbury Castle,
Friday October 25th 1644, by forces under the Earl of Northampton
TUESDAY, Octob. 22nd 1644: This day the Earl of
Northampton with a good strength of His Majesties Horse marched from
the rendezvous on Redheath neere Newbury, quartering all night at
Farnborough, whence
WEDNESDAY, Octob. 23rd: This morning early his Lordship
came towards Woodstocke; In his march hee met with a party of
Rebells, conveying sixty fat oxen from Faringdon to their friends at
Abingdon; these he instantly made stay of, but finding the Rebells
to make resistance, he killed 5 of them and took 22 prisoners,
whereof some were officers, and left not one man to go tell them at
Abingdon, bringing the prisoners with the fat oxen to Cassington,
and these he quartered all night –
THURSDAY, Octob. 24th: To day his Lordship marched to
Beechen Tree (where the Rendezvous was) to meet with Colonell Gage
with some Horse and Foot from Oxford (whos Horse were commanded by
Colonell Webb, the Foot by Lieutenant Colonell Gerard and Major
Kirke) and accordingly here they joined, and marched to Dedington a
village 4 miles from Banbury, where they purposed to have quartered
that night. But viewing the advenues of the place for better
securing of their men, they found the waters so high, that they
could not without much difficulty get over the bridges to Adderbury,
where some of the Rebells then lay, who giving notice to Banbury the
Rebells might easily have obstructed the passage, and frustrated the
whole designe. Hereupon both Horse and Foote marcht farther to
Adderbury, whence the Rebells fled as they had done before at
Dedington, and thus was the passe over the river gained. Twas full
10 of the clocke before they came into their quarters, and past
twelve ere the soldiers could thinke of any repose. Nor did they
rest there above 4 howers, For
FRIDAY, Octob. 25th: This morning before five a clocke
they drew out from Adderbury, and marched towards Banbury; by seven
they were within halfe a mile of the Towne, where they found the
Rebels Horse (about 800) in five bodies, drawne up, on the south
side of the Towne near their new sconce; here the Rebels stood
facing His Majesties Forces a quarter of an houre without attempting
anything, till two or three shot made by two small drakes, which
Colonell Gage brought from Oxford, made the Rebels stagger, so as
they traversed their ground by the Towne on the West side,
retreating somewhat disorderly towards Hanwell. The Rebels Foot
(about 700) ran confusedly out of Banbury Towne towards their Horse,
having sent their Baggage that way with their Artillery in the night
before. The Rebels thus retyring, the Earle of Northampton persued
after them with three regiments of Horse (the Earle of Brainford’s,
the Lord Wilmot’s, and his own) and some Dragooners, Colonell Webb
being sent on the lefthand round about Crouch Hill with most part of
the Oxford Horse, on purpose to face them or charge them in the
flanke. In the meane time Colonell Gage with the Foot entered
Banbury, and relieved the Castle with ammunition and provision.
His Lordship made all possible haste to overtake the Rebels,
which he did about halfe a mile short of Hanwell, and there (on the
top of a hill) a forlorn hope commanded by Captaine Browne (Captaine
Lieutenant to the Earle of Northampton) was drawne out to charge the
Rebels, who being in larger bodies, the Captaine joyned with
Colonell Webb’s Oxford Horse. The Rebels came hastily on, but when
they were within pistoll shot, they made a stand, whereupon Colonell
Webb, and Captaine Browne withdrew to their maine body, where the
noble Earle standing ready, came up instantly and charged so
gallantly, that he quickly disordered the Rebels, who fled a good
gallop towards Hanwell, their Foote having lyned the hedges neare
Hanwell Warren, gave his Lordship two volleyes of shot as he persued
(though but one man fell by it) whereby the Rebels Horse had some
time to run together. But the gallant Earle followed them so close,
that in a field neare Hanwell Towne they all scattered and dispersed
themselves; some towards Cropredy (Sir William Waller’s Bridge)
others through Hanwell Towne, some towards Broughton and Compton,
but the most towards Edge-Hill (whither you’ll sweare they went not
willingly) His Lordship all this while doing wholsome execution on
them. But nobody either saw or heard of Colonell John Fiennes
(fearing that his Horse would not perform the race) cried out for
Quarter, Quarter, when nobody had hands on him, or indeed neare him;
in which affrightment he fled betimes to their garrison at Compton
house, and there he begged admittance, but was refused by young
Puresey the Governor (sonne to Gamelliel Puresey) who bid him goe to
Banbury Castle; Master Fiennes durst not spend time to reply, but
posted away to Warwick, and thence to Coventry, whence he sent
letters next morning concerning Prisoners (O who would not pitty the
Horse he rode on?) the greatest body of the Rebells being persued
towards Edge-Hill received most execution.
Their Foote which was left in the pastures against the Warren,
escaped through the enclosures by help of hedges and ditches, for
neither the Rebells Horse nor Foote stayd till the Oxford Foote came
from Banbury to deal with them. The persuit reached as far as
Edge-Hill and in Warmington field (the very same place where the
Lord Brooke was made retreat with five pieces of ordnance in August
1642, by Spencer Earle of Northampton). These Rebells now forsooke
their Carriages, leaving one field piece of 4” ball, and three
waggons loaden with armes and ammunition; which his Lordship brought
safe to Banbury Castle. Captaine Browne (a gallant young man) was
slaine by the Rebells, Captaine Tilly Captaine Lieutenant to the
Lord Generall the Earle of Brainceford was shot in the mouth, by
bravely following his Lieutenant Colonell Scroope, who in this
action fought like his father (a valiant knight that at Edge-Hill
received 19 severall wounds) Colonell Webb had another hurt in his
other hand, but he made the Rebells that gave it pay deare for it,
Lieutenant Colonell Smyth (who did exceedingly gallantly) had a
light hurt, a young gentleman (one Master Boteler) is yet missing,
but his body not found and these were all of note either killed or
hurt besides 9 common Troopers. As for the Rebells they were so
fully dealt with, that from Hanwell to Edge-Hill the way was spread
with the Rebells dead bodies, whereof many rich cloathed, with
buffe-coates, silver laced and other good rewards for those that
persued them: their fine Major Lidcot (had Sir William Farmers
pistoll gone off) had troubled us no more, many Officers and
Soldiers taken, especially Captaine Unit, and Lieutenant Vernon (who
fled from Donnington Castle) besides fourscore and six other
prisoners, four Coronets of Horse, and above 200 horses; 6 barrels
of powder, good store of match and great shot, many great Grenadoes,
and some hand-Grenadoes, with divers shells and other materialls for
more………
In the fight (when they were routed in earnest) the Earle of
Northampton’s field word was PRINCE CHARLES, the Rebells word was
GOOD NEWES, which his Lordship sent them to carry, having stayed for
it at Banbury above a quarter of a yeare, for the siege began the
19th of July; All which time the gallant Knight Sir William Compton,
Lieutenant Colonell Green, and the rest of the commanders and
soldiers did their parts so coragiously, that they never admitted
any one parly; though the Rebells played furiously with great shot
and Grenadoes, whereby the Castle lodgings were much impaired,
though all is in a speedy way to be better than ever. If you aske
how the Castle is releeved remember whom we told you tooke 60 fat
oxen on Wednesday last, whereunto.
Mercurius Aulicus, printed at Oxford
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An account of an attempt to recapture the Compton family home
of Compton Wynyates from rebel occupants on 30th January 1645
The Compton's family home of Compton Wynyates in Warwickshire was
lost to rebel forces after a 3 day siege in June 1644. It was then
occupied by the detested Major George Purefoy and his troops, who
systematically terrorised local royalist sympathisers, and even a
few parliamentary supporters. At midnight on 29th/30th January 1645
Sir Charles Compton and Sir William Compton led troops on a two-hour
night march from Banbury, to attempt to recapture the house. The
following graphic report of the assault was penned by Purefoy
himself at 9pm later that evening.
This night, about two of the clock, about 1,000 or 1,200 Horse
and Foot fell upon me at Compton, storm'd my outworks, gain'd the
stables and cut down my great Draw-bridge and possest themselves of
all my Troop horses, and took about 30 of my foot Souldiers in their
beds who lay over the stables, almost before a man could think what
to do. We received that alarm as we had good cause, and presently
made good the new Sconce before the stone Bridge & beat them out of
the great Court, there being about 200 entred and ready to storm the
Sconce. But we gave them so hot a sallie that we forced them to
retreat backe to the stables, Barns and Brew-house, where from the
windowes they played very hot upon us. I then commanded Lieutenant
Purefoy [his brother] & my quarter-master (having no other
Officers of quality at home, the rest being abroad with about 30 of
my best Troopers) to sally out upon the enemy with a partie of some
40, & to attempt the regaining of the Brew-house and the rooms
above, which they did with gallant resolution and courage. Sergeant
Bird was one who came not short in bravery of any. This party fought
with the enemy and came to push of Pike, nay, to swords point, and
did lay about so bravely that they forced the enemy to retreat from
chamber to chamber. I then sent out my youngest brother the Ensign
with my three corporalls of horse and about 40 more men to relieve
the first partie; and I will assure you, the young boy will fight:
he led on his men bravely, and relieved his brother, by which meanes
all the upper roomes were gained. And the enemy kept onely the
stables and barns, stoutly, [but] my resolute souldiers did then
thunder their horses and reserves of foot that stood within pistol
shot, that Sir William and Sir Charles Compton began to give ground,
which my souldiers easily perceiving, some leapt out at the windowe
and so into the out-works, by which means I recovered my out-works
againe, and made good a sally port, by which the enemy endeavoured
to retreat at; but finding they were frustrated of their hopes, and
that my Musketeers did play so hot upon the great Draw-bridge that
they could not be relieved; & withall having beaten the enemy out of
that worke, which we stormd when you took the house, I had time to
recover the great Draw-bridge and presently got new ropes and new
lockes, and drew it up againe in spight of them all. Now these whose
names you have here inclosed were all in Cobbs pound, having no
meanes in the world to retreat. Whereupon they fought desperately
for the space of 3 houres, & the valiant Comptons perceiving their
extreame losse attempted three severall times to storm and to regain
my outworkes, but all three times were beaten off with as much
resolution and gallantry as could be. The enemy within set fire on
the hay, straw and all combustible stuffe, to smother my men out of
the upper rooms, which did indeed much annoy them; and the Enemy
without threw at least 100 hand Granadoes upon the houses that they
set them on fire in divers places. Sir Charles and Sir William
Compton then thinking all was their own sent a Trumpeter to parlie,
but I commanded that none should parlie, nor would I permit the
Trumpeter to speak at all, though faine he would have said something
to my souldiers, but commanded him upon his life to be gone and
return no more at his perill. We continued in fight still, and the
fire did so encrease that I thought it fit to offer quarter to all
those in the stable, for their lives onely; but they would not hear
me. Upon which I drew all my men together and fell violently in upon
them, wherein were slain and taken prisoners all whose names are in
the insuing list. This did so dishearten the Comptons and all their
forces that they did draw presently off all their foot, and onely
faced me with their horse, and sent another Trumpeter to parley. But
I commanded to give fire upon him, so that he returned with no other
answer but what a Musket could speake. Sir, this is as true and as
short a Narration as I can give you. I am, as we all are,
Your obliged servants & kinsmen
George Purefoy
The Banbury Garrison retreated in defeat about 9am, taking back
eight cart-loads of dead and wounded with them. According to Purefoy,
the Banbury Garrison lost 20 Officers, 40 others dead, plus 40 taken
prisoner. A sad day indeed for the Earl of Northampton's Regiment.
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A brief account of an attack on a rebel supply
convoy by the Earl of Northampton's Regiment, 6th March 1645
The importance of clothing soldiers was so overwhelming that
convoys of cloth which ventured onto England's highways were
regularly waylaid. On 6th March 1645 a detachment of scouts from
Banbury, busy collecting contributions near Ilmington to the west of
Banbury, routed a small party of rebels, only to discover that they
were the advance party of a much larger contingent escorting a huge
convoy of clothing from Gloucester to Warwick. Hastily calling up
the main regiment, Northampton's forces then successfully ambushed
the convoy of pack-horses as it negotiated the narrow bridge at
Halford on the River Stour:
Sixe or seaven of their packs got over the narrow Bridge at
Hawford Mill; the other 72 Sir Charles [Compton] and his
Souldiers seized, three or foure whereof the Souldiers presently
opened, and found to be broad Cloath of 20 shillings a yeard. In
those packs which the Souldiers opened were wrapped in the Cloathes
Mony, Plate, fine Linnen and rich Apparell...Sir Charles slew 12
Rebels in the place, tooke neare 70 of them Prisoners, and almost
six score Horses...
From an original letter penned by a Royalist, reproduced in Beesley's
The History of Banbury published in 1841. The Royalists
estimated the booty's value at £10,000. Rebel accounts vouchsafe for
the accuracy of the Royalist report.
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A report of a skirmish at
Kingsthorpe near Northampton on Tuesday 18th March 1645, involving
the four eldest Compton brothers
Taken from Mercurius Aulicus, the leading
Royalist newspaper, written the following day:
The Vapouring Rebell [Major George Purefoy,
garrisoning Compton Wynyates] you see talkes lustily, and that's
his chiefe strength; for the most noble Earle of Northampton doth so
coope him up, that his cummings abroad are more like a thiefe than a
souldier, creeping sometimes in the darke, where he steals
Contributions to keepe himselfe in heart to pen blustering warrants.
Yesterday he durst not peep out, for the Earle of Northampton (with
his three brave brothers) was abroad with his horse, having
intelligence that the Rebels horse from Northampton, were quartered
at Kingsthorpe, two miles beyond Northampton; before his Lordship
approached them, they were all got into Northampton, but as he
returned he saw 40 horse come out of Northampton, and at his passage
neare Althorpe, plainly espied that the Rebels had drawne their
whole strength of horse, with Newport-Pagnell horse, and lined the
hedges with musketeers; whereupon he faced about, and perceiving
their body of foote not neere, but onely those few that lined the
hedges, he drew up into foure bodies (the Rebels also were foure)
and knowing the former qualities of their horse, drew up as far from
the hedges as he could, and then charged them; the Rebels depending
much upon the ayde of their foote, not having beene known to stand
the dispute so long, which continued above half an hour at the
sword; at last the Rebels were all routed and ran; the body charged
by Sir William Compton first gave ground and after ran quite away,
Sir William pursued execution, whilst his Lordship [Earl James
Compton] and Sir Charles Compton gathered up two bodies to be
ready to receive the Rebels, in case they should make head again;
but they were so slashed and broken that they never look'd back,
twenty four of them were kild in the place, whereof two captaines,
one of them was Captaine Lydcott, twenty six officers and soldiers
taken prisoners, and a very great many sore wounded, among which
were Captaine Clark and Captaine Guy; all the pillage of the field
taken both horse and foote armes, and about thirty horse. His
Lordship had lost but five common souldiers, only the couragious
Captaine Colbourn was shot into the body by Captaine Lydcott, who
for his paines was shot by cornet Lovel; Captaine Colbourn wee heare
will recover, hee was left at Daventry, because a little before at a
Mill his Lordship did leave Captaine Guy (one of the Rebels) who
charging Sir William Compton was run through by Sir Spencer
Compton...Thus fell Guy (not of Warwick) whom this noble young
knight exceeded in courage, more than the old Gyant did Captaine Guy
in Stature. But the chiefest news of all (whereof all good men will
be sensible) is the happy preservation of these foure noble
brothers, who in this sharp encounter so farre engaged their persons
that every one of them was particularly endangered; the gallant
Earle himselfe was so deepe in, that his head-piece was beaten off,
his brother Sir Charles Compton had a pistol (not firing) clapt
close to his head, Sir William's horse was shot under him, with a
thrust upon the edge of his armes, and Sir Spencer enclosed by eight
Rebels, beyond all expectation quit himself; So as not one of them
received the least hurt, though they charged and rescued one another
so often, that if any of the foure had beene absent, some one of
them might have fallen, which would have made it an unhappy Victory
to us, for if you consider their quality, yeares, loyalty, courage,
and diligence, you'll scarcely match these foure brethren in His
Majesty's or any other King's Dominions.
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An account of a skirmish at
Islip near Oxford between Cromwell and the Earl of Northampton, on
Thursday 24th April 1645, and the regrouping of the King's forces at
Oxford
Both armies spent the winter quarters of 1644/45
regrouping and reorganising their armies. This became a race as the
rebels formed the New Model Army in the south-east, out of the
broken armies of the Earls of Essex and Manchester and Sir William
Waller. The King regrouped his army around Oxford with a plan to
head north. Fairfax ordered Cromwell to take 1500 horse to disrupt
Royalist preparations, and on 24th April Cromwell arrived at Islip
bridge to the north of Oxford, which was controlled by a brigade of
cavalry under the Earl of Northampton. This was the first action of
the New Model Army:
The marchings and movings and actions of the
Royal army, his Majesty being personally present, from his coming
out of his winter-quarters at Oxford...
Thursday April 24, 1645. Cromwell's horse and
dragoons ruined some of our horse, then quartered about Islip, of
the Lord of Northampton's command; 31 buried at Islip; 18 men buried
in [Hampton Poyle] , over against Kidlington; and this day
they demanded the delivery up of Blechindon, a house belonging to
Sir Thomas Coghill, wherein Colonel Windebanke had 200 foot, sans
works and provision only for two or three days. This afternoon one
of Oxford troops kept the bridge of Gosfard; at night came some
commanded foot out of Oxford; whither also Colonel Palmer's regiment
of horse.
About two or three of the clock on Friday
morning the colonel valiantly gave up the house and all his arms,
&c. besides 50 horse that came in thither [from Islip] for
shelter, and this without a shot. Friday in the afternoon he was
condemned by a council of war to die; and those that were his
counsellors and advisers, viz. Lieutenant-Colonel Hutchinson, Major
Earnley, Mr Eades, were disabled from ever bearing arms more.
Saturday morning, Wallingford troop came to
Oxford, to relieve the Lord of Northampton, &c. Some horse and foot
came from Farringdon, from Colonel Lisle's garrison; and all the
horse in Oxford were to be drawn out (and many horses were this day
plundered upon that pretence). When we had drawn out and marched,
news came that the enemy was gone. We returned to our several
quarters. At seven of the clock the Queen's troop of life guard was
beat up, and 60 horses taken; but six men.
On Sunday the 26th, the enemy pursued Lisle's
men, and took and killed near 200 of them. This afternoon also many
foot and horse were drawn out of Oxford.
May 4, Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice came
to Oxford. General Goring came on Monday.
May 7, his Majesty left Oxford, attended with
Prince Rupert, Prince Maurice, the Earl of Lindsey, the Duke of
Richmond, and the Earl of Northampton. His troop and the Queen's lay
that night at Woodstock.
Thursday, May 8. This morning at one of the
clock an alarm waked us; and at day-break the King marched with his
four pieces of cannon, eight boats in carriages, &c. viz. all manner
of ammunition, his troop of life-guards and foot regiment, the Earl
of Northampton's regiment of horse, Sir Thomas Dalison's regiment of
horse, and part of the regiment of life-guards in the van;
ammunition, &c. next; then his Majesty and the Earl of Northampton
in the rear. Near Stow on the Would we joined with Prince Rupert's
army of horse and foot. 18 miles. The King quartered at Stow on the
Would. This morning General Goring took 40 of Cromwell's horse
prisoners and two colonels near Burton; which news saluted us in
Woodstock Park. News that Sir Thomas Fairfax was marched with all
his body to relieve Taunton.
Account by Mr R Simmonds, a quarter-master in the
King's army, reproduced in The History and Antiquities of the
County of Leicester, John Nichols (Vol. III Pt. II)
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