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| Malmesbury 1643 | ||
| Mar 21 | After a fast night march Waller arrives at Malmesbury. It was defended by Lt-Col. Herbert Lunsford and not many more than 300 foot. | Malmesbury's strategic situation on the road between Oxford and Bristol made it a prized possession. It changed sides no less than six times during the course of the conflict |
| 'At my first coming their horse shewed themselves in a bravado under the side of a wood about a quarter of a mile from the town, but upon the first proffer of a charge they retired hastily towards Cirencester before we could come up to them' | ||
| After taking some fire from Royalist troops hiding behind stone walls, They managed to gain the lower end of town. | ||
| 'We fell on upon the West Port, in which they had cast up a breastwork and planted a piece of ordnance. The street so narrow at the upper end next the work that not above four could march in breast, this business cost hot water. As we fell on we advanced two drakes, and under that favour our musketeers possessed themselves of some houses near the Port from whence we galled the enemy very much. If our men had come out roundly we had then carried it, but the falling of some cooled the rest. And so the first assault failed, after a fight of near half an hour.' | Quotes are taken from a letter from Waller to the Earl of Essex. | |
| Some Royalist cavalry approached the town but were easily
dispersed by Sir Arthur Haselrige's horsemen.
The fighting in the town began again, but dwindled after an hour or so, - the Parliamentarian soldiers were running short of ammunition. The drakes were withdrawn that night at about 2am in case they were captured by the enemy. Waller then fooled the defenders into thinking a major attack was imminent by parading all his troops in the streets, blowing trumpets and beating drums. The Royalists sent out a drummer to crave a parley.
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| Mar 22 | The gates of the town were opened to Waller at about
7.30am.
He entrusted the town to Sir Edward Hungerford, leaving his foot from Wiltshire and 200 muskets to arm local Parliamentarian supporters. Waller intended to move on to Cirencester but heard that Rupert had captured it for the Royalists, and headed towards Gloucester instead and Lord Herbert's Welsh army camped at Highnam House.
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Malmesbury Abbey |
| Mar 26 | Prince Rupert's cavaliers re-entered the town as
Hungerford was in Bath to get supplies and make arrangements for his
prisoners. His garrison had deserted their post and abandoned the town
when they heard that the Royalists were coming.
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Rupert captured 11 colours, 8 cannon and ammunition, 2 officers and five soldiers. |