53 



regiment of horse and dragoons* of Sir James Hamilton's and 

 dispersed them; so within two days the King's forces beat a 

 party of his from a pass near Bath, where the enemy lost tAvo 

 field-pieces and near a hundred men." 



That this last fight was " The Skirmish at Claverton" there can 

 be hardly any doubt when we compare this account with that 

 given of the same event in the Rushworth collection of Historical 

 Papers. Rushworth says (Vol. v., p. 284, under June, 1643,) 

 " the Marquis of Hertford, and Prince Maurice and Sir Ralph 

 Hopton had their head-quarters at Wells : and Sir William 

 Waller being at Bath sent out Major Dowet to beat up one of 

 their quarters, where Sir James Hamilton's regiment of horse lay, 

 whom they dispersed and took Lieut. -Colonel Carr, Major Blunt, 

 two captains, four cornets, ninety-seven troopers, one hundred and 

 forty horses and sixty cases of pistols. This provoked his Majesty's 

 forces, so that the next day being the 3rd of July (old style 1) 

 they advanced in a body toimrds Waller, and being come ivithin tv:o 

 miles of Fourd Hill the said Major Dowet was commanded forth 

 with three hundred horse and foot to secure the Pass at Fmird 

 Bridge but he was beat oif — ten of his men were killed and two 

 hammerpiecest taken." " On the 4th Waller having dra-Roi his 

 forces out of Bath lay all night on Lansdowii, and on the 5th 

 July Captain Butler under command of Sir Arthur Haslerig and 

 Major DoAvet with 200 horse seconded by 200 more under Colonel 

 Carrl gave a warm charge but were so gallantly received that 

 they were forced to retreat though yet they kept in order till they 

 were relieved by Colonel Burghill." This was the commencement 

 of the Battle of Lansdown and we need not follow the chronicler 

 farther — but the dates are given to show the close connection in 

 point of time between the skirmish at the Pass near Fourd 

 Bridge and the battle of LansdoAvn. 



• Mounted infantry. 



f Hammerpicces — cannon with flint locks probably. 



X Had Colonel Carr changed sides— he was taken at Wells two days before? 



