602 The Battle of Roundway Down. 



he reached tlie high ground, whence he could equally well watch 

 the direction of Oxford and work round at will by Coate (where 

 he placed his batteries) towards Potterne, cutting Hopton's com- 

 munication with the King, and encamping his infantry in the 

 hollow ground of Eoundway village and between it and the town, 

 ready to occupy ground to the right or the left as it should be 

 called upon. It is doubtful to me if his force, which was not, it 

 appears from Hopton's narrative, numerically superior, was large 

 enough ever to complete the investment on the western side before 

 the siege was raised. There are no indications that this was ever 

 attempted. 



Waller's own headquarters must have been at Mr. Butler's farm 

 at Eoundway. 



On the other hand there is less difficulty in locating Eoundway 

 Fight. It is plain that one great object of Waller in placing his 

 cavalry on the hill of Eoundway (" Bagnall Hill") was to watch 

 the direction of Oxford, whence he knew he must expect an attack 

 which would be perilous to him, while yet it could still keep in 

 touch with tlie infantry and artillery and tiie siege. The point at 

 which both these objects could best be attained together would be 

 behind the present belt of wood above Mr. Butler's farm. There, 

 then, we must suppose these horsemen encamped at night ; and 

 there they probably " drew up " in haste to receive Wilmot's attack. 

 Wilmot probably left the road from Oxford at or about Shepherd's 

 Shore. Taking advantage of the fine cover afforded by a long knoll 

 to the south-west of the present cross-road to Calne, he would 

 sweep up the present race-course, bursting on his enemy suddenly 

 and perhaps within carbine range. 



As to the direction of the rout, it would appear to be marked 

 not only by tradition and by Waller's desire to make for Bristol, 

 but also by the name and tradition of "Bloody Ditch" on 

 — or rather under — the western escarpment of these heights, 

 where the inhabitants say soldiers' bodies and arms have been 

 found. It is in the hollow to the north of the most projecting 

 spur of the downs. There is little or nothing to be seen, but it is 

 one of the few remaining traditions. 



