The First and Second Battles of Newbury and the Siege of Donnington Castle During the English Civil War

Three connected and vital episodes of seventeenth century warfare

This substantial book of the English Civil War concerns three pivotal engagements thoughtfully and thoroughly researched and written by Walter Money. In the First Battle of Newbury in 1643 both sides were evenly matched. The Parliamentary forces were commanded by Essex and the King himself commanded his own forces accompanied by Rupert. It was fought to an appalling stalemate—each side losing over 20% of its men in casualties. On balance the Royalists fared worse losing Carnarvon, Sunderland and Falkland in the fighting—the last by apparent suicide. The second battle was fought the following year close by the site of the first in October 1644. After substantial success against Essex in Cornwall the King now had to face Essex, Waller and Manchester the recent victor of Marston Moor. The outcome was another marginal Parliamentarian tactical victory without much strategic advantage. In October Charles relieved Donnington Castle. The Siege of Donnington was a remarkable feat of defence by any standard in any conflict. The position was held by a Royalist garrison from 1643 to 1646 under the leadership of John Boys against repeated attempts to take it by Parliamentary forces. Upon its eventual surrender the defenders—in recognition of outstanding gallantry—were permitted to march out with drums beating and flying colours. A riveting account for all those interested in the period.

After the unsuccessful attempt to pierce the Royalist line at Shaw, no further effort, with any vigour, was made by Manchester until the pre-concerted signal informed him that Waller’s force had fallen on at Speen Hill. The interval until four o’clock was occupied by warm skirmishes between the two parties, accompanied by an active interchange of artillery fire. Manchester, busy with his preparations for advancing in force, rode to and fro, and spiritedly addressed his men, while his Chaplain, Simeon Ashe, offered up fervent prayers for their success.<br>
The right wing of the Parliamentary Army, having successfully accomplished their flank march, were now on this Sunday morning, whilst the bells of the neighbouring churches were sounding for divine worship, preparing for the contest. Waller was in chief command; Sir William Balfour led the right wing of horse; Lieutenant. General Cromwell the left; Major-General Skippon, the foot. Their men were rapidly placed in position on the high ground between the Wickham Road and Stockcross, overlooking on their right the Kennet Valley and the scene of their triumph the preceding year.<br>
At the same time, the Royal trumpets rang out “To arms!” The scattered troopers, many of whom, in fancied security, were engaged in foraging for their horses, galloped back to their comrades; but before their ranks could be well formed, a shout of revenge “for the business in Cornwall” was heard along the Parliamentary line, the red, white, and blue colours were unfurled, and the “forlorn hope” of 800 musqueteers came on with unshrinking courage.<br>
These were veterans who had lately served under their brave old leader Essex, and were now led by Lieutenant-Colonel Lloyd, with Hurry for his Major, nephew of the notorious renegade Sir John Hurry. They were supported by Colonel Aldridge’s brigade, consisting of his own, Davies’s, Fortescue’s, and Ingoldsby’s regiments. Essex’s old , regiment was sent up as a support on the right, where the Trained Bands were already engaged, and urged on by the excitement which prevailed, they rushed pell-mell into the Royalists’ entrenchments.<br>
A desperate fight ensued; the blood of the Cavaliers was up; and, fighting hand to hand, they slaughtered their assailants in heaps, as they mounted the bank, and the ditch was soon filled with the dead and dying. Major Hurry, bravely leading the “forlorn-hope” (his colonel having already been struck down), fell mortally wounded. The gallant Colonel Gawler, who had done good service for the Parliament in many a bloody field, dropped lifeless from his horse, pierced by a Royalist bullet. For a moment the enemy was repulsed; but determined to carry a position so necessary in effecting a junction with Manchester, he renewed the attack.<br>
An hour’s hard fighting succeeded; and then bringing all their energy to bear on this point, in the midst of a storm of shot from the gallant defenders, and from the guns at Donnington Castle, the Parliamentary soldiers again came to the charge. Forward! was the word; and, despite the resolute resistance of the brave but outnumbered Royalists, they fought with a calm determination that nothing could withstand. The King’s troops at last gave way. Flushed by this temporary success, their opponents pressed forward with increased impetuosity.<br>
Again a stirring cheer arose from their ranks, and making a dash at the guns they had lost in Cornwall, now deserted by their late captors, who fled at headlong speed down the hill, “they clapped their hats on the touch-holes, and embraced them with tears of joy.” The forces of Prince Maurice in the village of Speen, unable to stand against the overwhelming numbers of the Parliament, stayed the tide for a time, but at length yielded to superior force. Driven from their position to join in the retreat with the remnant from the Heath, they fell back disorganised on the main body of their horse and artillery in the fields “between Speen and Newbury,” and hastily endeavoured to reform their broken ranks.<br>
The Royalists were cleared from off the Heath. The guns lost at Lostwithiel, thus regained, were limbered up and sent to the rear, together with those which had been planted at the foot of the hill. Waller now launched his cavalry in pursuit of the retreating enemy, and avenged in merciless slaughter the cause of the Parliament. Well might the Commissioners write, “Wee desire to give God the glory of this victory, it being His worke and upon His day;” while Waller exclaimed, like the Fifth Harry, in the fulness of his gratitude,<br>
God, Thy arm was here!<br>
And not to us, but to Thy name alone,<br>
Ascribe we all.<br>
Great was the panic among the Cavaliers at this moment. They “threw down their arms, and ran away, crying ‘Devils! Devils! They fight like Devils!’ For ours gave no quarter to any they knew to be of the Cornish.” Following up this advantage, while Waller fell on the Royalists’ rear in their retreat from Speen Hill, Sir William Balfour, with the right wing of horse, swept round under the hill, on the south side of Speen Church, skirting the Kennet, and, having gained “the large field” between Speen and Newbury, where stood the King, with the young Prince of Wales and many of his attendants, he made a spirited attack upon the royal guard.<br>
It is evident that for a short time the King and his staff were in imminent danger; for a whole brigade of Royalist horse, at the first shock, outnumbered to a great degree and already demoralized by increasing panic, reeled and wavered, and at length, giving ground to the advancing host, put spurs to their horses, and fled in disorder towards the town of Newbury. The King, dismayed at the sight, vainly endeavoured to restrain the flight of his retreating squadrons, and lead them on again; but the authority of command was gone, and he found himself surrounded by the enemy.