954 Tlie Battle of lioundway Down. 



the Battle of Koundway Down marks in this Western campaign 

 the faihire of Sir William Waller, on behalf of the Parliament, to 

 get between the main body of the King's army at Oxford and this 

 now united Western Division of Koyalist troops under Hertford, 

 Maurice and Hopton, who on their side had endeavoured to cut 

 off Waller from London. At Wells these leaders found themselves 

 confronted by Waller at Bath, who, therefore, lay between them 

 and Bristol, which above all things they wanted to capture. 

 Swinging round by Frome, they therefrom endeavoured to approach 

 Bath by way of the Avon Valley, thus achieving the double object 

 of threatetiing Waller's communications with London and attacking 

 him on his weakest side. But Waller, a good man at choosing 

 ground, lay warily under Claverton Down ; so again the Eoyalists 

 had to make a second swing to the right flank, and getting on to 

 the Chippenham — Bristol main road about Marshfield, they attacked 

 him from the north at Tog Hill (5th July). Waller, however, drew 

 in his men in time on to the north face of Lansdown Hill, and 

 getting his guns on to the northern ridge, inflicted, in spite of the 

 splendid gallantry of Hopton^s Cornishmen, such severe losses on 

 tlie stormers (only 600 out of 2000 of their cavalry remaining un- 

 hurt) that though they established themselves on the height, they 

 were unable, especially as they were now short of ammunition, to 

 remain there; and at nightfall, while Waller thought it prudent 

 strategy to retire toBath, the Royalist commanders felt it necessary to 

 retire to Marshfield (one night), and thence again to Chippenham 

 (two nights), to avoid being cut off from Oxford by Waller, should 

 he move out from Bath by direct road to Chippenham.^ 



This is what he did, and though the Royalists on Sunday, 9th 

 July, at noon retreated from Chippenham quickly enough to save 

 their communications, yet, as they made for Oxford by Devizes^ 

 v^hich was the safest way if they would keep between Oxford and 

 Waller, their rear was hard pressed by the Parliamentarians, and 

 all along the road and fields from Chippenham, through Bromham 

 and Netherstreet and Rowde to Devizes, rear-guard fighting was 



1 See Letter of Sir W. Waller and Sir A. Haselrigge to Lenthall, 12tli 

 July, 1643. MS. Tanner 62, fol. 164. 



