78 HISTORY OF HARTING. 



As the strength of the Parliamentarian forces grew 

 on all sides (from London Train-bands, and the Kent, 

 Surrey, and Sussex contingents), until at last Waller 

 had an army before Arundel of 8,000 men, Harting 

 and its garrison began to suffer terribly. Just before 

 Christmas Day, Lord Hopton made a vigorous effort 

 with 4,000 Horse to relieve Arundel, but his forces 

 were outnumbered by Waller, and he " made a nimble 

 retreat towards Winchester." Having lost a battle 

 south of the downs, he had to fight his pursuers all 

 the way over the hills, and reaching the foot of the 

 northern side of the downs at Harting, found a second 

 battle awaiting him on the north, wliere the inexorable 

 ColonelNorton, of Hampshire, was crouching like a 

 panther, his dragooners anxious to set at rest the 

 laugh about the "six men and the boy."* 



Thus the second battle at Harting was fought, and 

 this time the king's forces were totally defeated. Its 

 date was close on Christmas Day, as may be seen by 

 comparing the following evidence : it was again a 

 cavalry engagement ; and between 200 and 300 of the 

 Earle of Crawford's horse, a detachment of Hopton's 

 retreating army, were taken prisoners. 



Among the State Papers (Domestic) of 1643 is one 

 dated 28th December, written by a royalist of the 

 name, real or assumed, of Harrison, to a Mr. Jean 

 Bradley, English gentleman, of the College of Tournay, 

 Paris. 



" 28, io br - 1643 Sir William Waller was 



bravely repulsed and soundly beaten from Basing 

 about five or six weeks ago, with the loss of the best 

 part of a thousand of his men, and the diminution of 



" Perfect Diurnall," 8th Jan., 1643-4 : " There is certain 

 newes come this night to the Speaker that Arundell Castell was 

 surrendered this day, about 9 of the clock, to Sir William Waller 

 .... And further, that Sir Ralph Hopton is hemmed in between 

 Chichester and Winchester, and that he can hardly escape Sir 

 William's forces." 



