Borough Hill 1645
Jun 8 At a council of war Fairfax proposed Cromwell for Lieutenant-General of the horse and sent for him from Ely where he was recruiting. The Commons agreed (despite the Self-Denying Ordinance) but the Lords did not...but that was enough for Fairfax.
Jun 10 Fairfax moved his headquarters to Stony Stratford - 25 miles from Borough Hill (just east of Daventry) where the Royalist forces were camped.

Vermuyden's brigade joined Fairfax, bringing the total to about 13000 men (including 5500 horse and dragoons)

 The Royalists were waiting at Borough Hill for a troop of 1200 cavalry to return from Oxford, to which they had escorted some plundered livestock.

Fairfax's approach from Oxford towards the King's army stationed at Borough Hill just outside Daventry.
Jun 11 Fairfax marched his army in the rain through muddy country lanes to Wooton. The cavalry sent to re-supply Oxford return that night.
Jun 12 Fairfax moves on to Kislingbury. They are now just 5 miles from the Royalist camp on Borough Hill. An advance party of cavalry comes across some Royalist troops who seemed unaware of the closeness of the enemy. Some prisoners were taken, who said that the King was out hunting several miles away in Fawsley Park. The Parliamentarian foot were some way behind and it was getting late so they could not launch an attack.

That night Fairfax is challenged by a sentry and has to confess that he has forgotten the password.