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Hampshire Chapter 1 | THE Civil War in Hampshire (1642-45) AND THE STORY OF BASING HOUSE BY REV. G. N. GODWIN, B.D.Appendix II Lord HoptonIn the Rawlinson MSS. the following references to Lord Hopton occur (395.9). Oxford, January 18, 1643. Lord Hopton to have 1000 musquets with Bandoliers from Weymouth or Dartmouth "for his recruits altogether destitute of Armes." These arms were on January 3i directed to be furnished by Weymouth. (395.13.) Thirty barrels of gunpowder were delivered to Lord Hopton at Winchester on February 18, 1643 (395-23); and on October i of the same year Weymouth was ordered to supply " what musquets Lord Hopton may need." (395.47.) The confidential account given by Lord Hopton of the Battle of Alsford (Alresford), and of his proceedings for some little time previously, is preserved in the Bodleian Library. (Clarendon MS. 1738.6.) He describes his coming to Winchester with great detail (p. 1 23), saying that he was summoned before the Committee of Lords sitting at Oriel College, Oxford, and given the command in Hampshire and the West. His account is written in the third person. " And to make the body of the Army the Earl of Craforde with his regiment of horse and dragoons and divers new regiments of horse were assigned to him, but for foot there was no means to help him, but that he was to drawe what he could out of his own quarters, and so for ordnance and ammunition." He was promised £6000 to be paid him at Bristol within fourteen days, but he only received £1500, and was obliged to pawn his contribution-money from Bristol city for twenty weeks for £3000. His officers were but poor. " His own regiment of horse and dragoons, and Sir Edward Stowell with his regiment, and the Lord Marquis of Hertford's and Sir George Vaughan's regiments being still in Wiltshire, besides the other regiments added to his command, and some beginnings of regiments in Dorsetshire and Somersetshire, which in all might make about 1600 horse, and for a Trayne he had some small field pieces and ammunition: There came to Bristol (p. 106), from Ireland, two regiments commanded by Sir Charles Vavasor and Sir John Paulel. They both might make between four and five hundred foot ; bold, hardy men, and excellently well officered ; but the common men were mutinous, and shrewdly infected with the rebellious humour of England, being brought over merely by the virtue and loyalty of their officers, and large promises which there was then but small means to perform. But the Lord Hopton struggling through all exigents as he could prepared speedily to draw forth, and designed to have fallen first upon Warder Castle, being a business (as he supposed) would not have cost him many days (notwithstanding the obstinat courage of Mr. Ludlow who defended it). And to that purpose he sent orders to fetch four great iron guns from Weymouth, with pretence for the works at Bristol, and gave those Irish regiments quarters about Bath ; with private directions to their officers to draw them upon pretence of bettering their cjuarters on towards Warminster and Hindon. Resolving with them and the rest to have fallen suddenly upon Warder, and with reasonable success there to have fallen upon Lyme and to block up Poole, all which he conceived was very feasible. And by this means to have left no enemy at his back. Though afterwards he was enforced against his own judgment and to the future great prejudice of the service to alter that counsell by reason that Sir William Ogle without his knowledge, and very untimely for his design surprised the Castle of Winchester, and procured commission for the command of it from Oxford, with Colonel Gerard (now the Lord Gerard), his brigade of horse, and Colonel Innis with Prince Rupert's regiment of dragoons and Lieut.-Colonel Morley with the Lord Wentworth's dragoons to come to him to support him till the Lord Hopton was able to advance to his relief, which he forthwith most earnestly importuned, procuring letters likewise from Oxford signifying His Majestie's command to the same effect." Sir Charles Vavasor was ordered by Lord Hopton to march to Henden (stc), and to join the two Boyers who had been holding Wardour Castle in check with two troops of dragoons. The four iron guns from Weymouth reached Hopton at Fonthill, and were promptly sent to the siege of Wardour Castle. Hopton left a force to " maintain the block of Poole," Dorset paying weekly to the King ;^icxx) as contribution-money. But his subordinates " yet proving unsuccessful in their proceedings, the King's affairs impaired apace in that county." Sir William Ogle was still begging for infantry, and Hopton sent him Colonel Allen Apsley with about 600 foot, and Major Day with a party of dragoons and a proportion of ammunition, appointing a rendezvous for the rest of his forces at Amesbury. " Where on the day assigned he came, and found the horse in good numbers, and the ordnance and ammunition come safe thither. But the foot which he expected, saving about 300 of his own regiment, which he brought out of Bristol, utterly fayle, which cast him into a very great difficulty. But he resolved to advance with what he had to Andover, where Colonel Gerard with his brigade was then quartered. Depending upon his intelligence for the state of the enemy in that country, he came, as he had designed, into Andover three or four hours within night, and there kept his men in guard (sic), till he had consulted with Colonel Gerard, who came immediately to him at his lodging, and the Earle of Craforde with him. The Lord Gerard presently assured him that Sir William Waller was tha night come into Alsford (six little miles from Winchester,) with a formidable army, reputed to be about 5000 foot, and between 2000 and 3000 horse, and a good Trayne of Artillery, and that he resolved to advance to Winchester the next day. In this exigent, there being but little hope but in the reputation that he had there rather than in his strength, the Lord Hopton presently gave out his orders for all to be ready to march an hour or two before day, but gave secret orders to the Trayne to appoint onely two field pieces with ammunition on horseback to march with him, and the rest of the Trayne to turn off back to Amesbury. Himself with the horse and dragoons and those two little pieces advanced to Winchester. It pleased God that this resolution succeeded very well, for Sir William Waller having intelligence of his speedy advance, and believing his power to be greater, retired with his army from Alsford, and sat down before Basing House, which proved very convenient for the Lord Hopton, who hereby gained 10 or 12 days to forward his business at Winchester, whither he with ease and safely drew his Trayne and those few foot from Amesbury. But finding his great want of foot, and the necessity that there would be within few days to advance towards the rehef of Basing House, he cast every way to supply himself." No news came to Hopton of his Irish regiments at Wardour Castle, " and, doubting that nothing but money v/ould make them tractable, he went himself thither from Winchester and carried £300 with him. Where coming to ffuntill (Fonthill), he was presently entertained by Sir Charles Vavasor and Lord Arundell of Wardour, who was then there, with a complaint that the regiment being at Henden, was in a high mutiny against their officers, insomuch that they durst not adventure to come amongst them. Whereupon the Lord Hopton that night appointed a rendezvous of Sir George Vaughan's regiment of horse, and of the two troops of dragoons near Henden, and with them the next morning early fell into the town upon the mutineers, took some of the principals, and commanded the rest of the regiment to draw out. And upon that terror, and the execution of two or three of the principal offenders he drew the regiment quietly to Winchester." Hopton detailed for the siege of Wardour Castle Colonel Barnes with a regiment which he had raised some months before in Dorset by a commission from Hopton himself, and on the return journey to Winchester my lord met Sir Thomas Biron, with the Prince's regiment of horse, sent by the King, " and by the excellent conduct of that honest gentleman was afterwards of great use to him." Sir John Paulet, his Majesty's Major-General of Foot, came with his regiment from Bristol, and Hopton speedily raised at Winchester 2000 foot fit for any service. The Marquis of Winchester, being hard pressed at Basing by Sir William Waller, sent out a letter by a woman, saying that he could not resist Waller longer than six days. Lord Hopton promised help in due time, and wrote to Oxford, requesting a reinforcement from the garrison at Reading, "which was granted and very well executed by Sir Jacob Ashley (now Lord Ashley)," who met Hopton at Kingsclere with 900 excellent foot. Lord Percy's regiment of horse, and two field pieces, and Colonel Bellasis' regiment of horse, commanded by Major Bovill. (The third wife of Colonel Lord Belasyse was Lady Anne Paulet, daughter of the Marquis of Winchester.) Early next morning the force marched to Basing, " being now a very handsome little army, of near 3000 foot and dragoons, about 2000 horse, and a good Trayne of Artillery (pp. 120, 124). When they came near Basing they found Sir William Waller risen. Lord Hopton rested and refreshed his troops that night at Basing, and with the advice of his Counsell of War resolved to advance towards the enemy and quarter in and about Odiam. At Basing Colonel Gerard desired leave for himself to return to Oxford upon some special occasion he then had, which the Lord Hopton granted, but with regret to lose the assistance of so gallant a person." Daily skirmishes took place (p. 124). The fight of November 28 (p. 131) is thus described by Hopton. "Van Drust a principal commander of horse in Sir William Waller's army, taking notice that Sir Edward Stowell with his regiment and a troop or two more were quartered at Sutton, a quarter very untenable, and therefore the Lord Hopton had given Sir Edward Stowell an officer of his own, with 30 dragoons to help to strengthen it. The said Van Drust with a strong party of horse and dragoons attempted that quarter about two hours before day, but he was at the entrance so well entertained by the dragoons, and so hansomly charged by Sir Edward Stowell himself in the middest of that" quarter as he was broken, routed, and chased some miles homewards, having left behind him several of his men dead in the quarter. Sir Edward Stowell's Major was there unfortunately taken. Vandress carried nothing away with him, but a bullet shot in his shoulder, and divers of his men hurt. At Odiam, Sir John Berkeley (p. 124) came up to the army with a reasonable good party of horse and dragoons, and about 1000 of his foot came up a day or two after him." On either November 20 or 28 (pp. 127, 131), by advice of a Council of War, " about an hour before day, all men, saving reasonable guards which he left upon his quarters, and upon the Trayne, for he carried but two small pieces with him," were formed up in close order '* upon the nearest part of the heath towards Farnham, and drew out 1000 musqueteers and some party of horse to advance towards their quarter and to draw them out." Waller declined to fight. " He drew out his forces into the little Park close under the Castle and kept his horse close, playing only with his cannon out of the Castle, resolving as he did afterwards very souldier like to take his advantage upon our retreat." Lord Hopton " advanced his foot and two little pieces to the end of the heath there, to make a stand towards Odiam on the edge of the inclosures, and made his retreat as orderly as he could, over the hill with his horse, his rear being all the way very smartly entertained by the enemy. And so he retreated without disorder or any considerable loss to his quarter." Consultation with his officers followed, and on the grounds that " the quarters were bare, and the enemy being so sheltered under the Castle of Farnham," Lord Hopton sent " his own Tertio (Cornish brigade) to Alsford, Sir John Berkeley with his horse and foot to Petersfield (p. 1 24), and the Lord Craford's horse and dragoons to Alton." He meant to move the latter party to Midhurst and Cowdray House. He then senti Sir Edward Ford to Lord Craford and Sir Jacob Ashley, and another officer to Sir John Berkeley, with orders to at once send dragoons to rendezvous at Cowdray House and take it. The plan was discovered, and Cowdray House was that night garrisoned by the enemy. Lord Hopton considered this the beginning of his misfortunes, and speaks of " the great misfortune that befell him afterwards at Alton." From Arundel (p. 138) Hopton "retired to Petersfield, and, having the dangerous quarter of Alton continually in his care, went thither the next day to visit it, and there to confer with the Earl of Craforde and Colonel Bolles." Sir Jacob Ashley had gone back to Reading a few days before. " Observing the large extent and insecurity of that quarter," Hopton ordered good guard to be kept, and careful scouting, and told Lord Crawford and Colonel Bolles to fall back at once upon Win- chester if any advance was made from Farnham. Of the disaster at Romsey (p. 140), Lord Hopton tells us that he posted Colonel William Courtney and Sir Humphrey Bennet in that town " that they might be always in action against the garrison of Southampton." Sir Humphrey Bennet was absent on duty as Sheriff, "and there falling out in his absence disorder and discontent amongst his officers, which caused likewise disorder and disobedience and carelessness in their guards ; and Sir William Courtney observing the inconveniences that were likely to grow by it, coming over himself to Winchester to speak with Sir Humphrey Bennet about it, it happened that Colonel Norton, out of Hampton, fell suddenly upon that quarter in the absence of both of the chief officers, and beat it up, and, in effect, ruined both those regiments." The greater disaster of Alton (pp. 1 40-151) followed. On the night of Romsey Fight Lord Hopton returned to Alresford from Sussex, got early news next morning, and at once went to Winchester to see what could be done. That night Sir H. Bennet showed him a letter just received from a friend saying that Waller had been reinforced, and that he had some very light leather guns (p. 139), " which gave cause to suspect that he had some present design that required a* nimble execution." Lord Hopton suspected an imminent attack upon Alton, and sent a horseman to Lord Crawford with a copy of the news, bidding him send out scouts and parties in every direction, and to retire upon Winchester on the least suspicion of any advance of Waller from Farnham. Lord Crawford acknowledged that he received the warning before 11 p.m. and sent out his scouts. " But Sir William Waller had politiquely and souldier-like taken advantage of the woodiness of that country, and drawen his men and his light leather guns into the woods, and with Pyoneers made his way through them, without coming into any of the high waies." The surprise was complete. Warning went to Winchester, and Hopton mustered his men. Lord Crawford and the cavalry " finding horse to be of little use in that case, brake through the enemy," and told Hopton, who was advancing to their help. Word was " shortly after brought to him by divers Job's messengers with certain notice that Colonel Bolle, behaving himself as gallantly as ever man did, was slayne with many of his men, and the remainder, with that quarter, taken by the enemy ! " Treachery had been at work. " Sir William Waller was principally guided in the business by one Mottham, who had bin an officer in the Earl of Craforde's regiment of horse, and was not long before at Odiam saved from hanging by the earnest mediation of the Earl of Craford. Mottham had remained there a long time an intelligencer for Sir William Waller." A double-dyed scoundrel ! Alton was indeed the beginning of sorrows ! Lord Hopton wrote an account of the Alton disaster to Oxford, and said that he could turn the tables if 800 or 900 foot were sent to him. The hardly-pressed King returned a gracious answer, " but the desired supply came not ! " Colonel Bamfield at Arundel was disobedient. He returned to Hopton the regiments of Colonel Butler and Colonel Clarke, " but none of his foot, and kept Colonel Bellasis' his regiment contrary to orders ! " To aid Hopton in raising the siege of Arundel Castle (pp. 150-1), Lord Wilmot was sent to him "with a 1000 of the King's horse, which, although it was a gallant body, was not proper for that service." Hopton says that he went to Arundel with about 2000 horse, but not above 1200 foot. As he retired he sent dragoons to invest Warblington House (p. 157), where Norton's garrison was doing much damage to the country. Warblington House was stoutly defended by one of Colonel Norton's officers, but surrendered in a few days upon composition. Hopton did his best to surround Colonel Norton, but says that his failure was due to Colonel Horatio Cary. Of the Havant Fight (p. 158) he says : " And thereby gave Norton the opportunity to charge, and routed him where he had the execution of many of his men, the officers hardly escaping. But in the very heat of this execution, Major Maxwell with his little party fell in upon Norton so sharply as he recovered all that was alive of the dragoons, and brought in 24 prisoners of Norton's men, himself hardly escaping ! " On the night Lord Hopton returned to Winchester Lord Wilmot was ordered away with his horse, and with the Prince's regiment (p. 164), " which being a regiment very well officered, and being of the number of 200, very good horsemen, had bin a great strength." Hopton had now only about iioo horse and as many infantry left with him. " Sir William Waller being then at least treble as strong in the field, and the hearts of his men much elated with their success." Hopton and Wilmot parted with mutual regret ; and the latter carried word to the King that Hopton meant fight- ing if opportunity offered. He now sent recruiting officers into the west, and orders for cloth and other necessaries to Salisbury and other towns, for which he pledged his own credit: Waller's return from Arundel was happily delayed by " a great season of frost and snow." The King ordered Hopton to retreat from Winchester to Marl- borough. He agreed, under protest, but said that his preparations would take four or five days ; " and according to his hopes, the snows continued and increased daily, and stayed the enemy in his quarters about Arundel." Recruits came in, and there were soon 2000 well-clad foot and as many horse at Winchester: Romsey was recovered on March 13 (p. 169), "where about 80 of the enemy's foot, with their Colonel and officers, were taken prisoners, besides some few of them slain, and others dissipated." The Earl of Forth brought with him (p. 195) 1200 foot and 800 horse. Lord Hopton met him at Newbury, and returned with him to Winchester, where forage and full loads of hay were now being fetched from the neighbourhood of Southampton, under strong convoys by Hopton's own transport, and by 100 carts which he had commandeered from the Sheriff of Wilts. The cavalry were well contented, in spite of a report that Sir William Balfour had 18,000 horse and dragoons at Warnford and West Meon, 4000 being nearer the truth (p. 174). The Earl of Forth (or Brentford) ordered Hopton to march (p. 175) about 3 p.m with his whole army and the guns, and to camp three miles out of Winchester. Several parties of horse were sent out with orders to guard the army, but not to fight. Next morning the army was ready to march towards Warnford, when the Earl of Brentford joined it, suffering agonies from gout. Waller's men had met a Cavalier party the night before (p. 176) at West Meon, and "were drawn out and embattailed upon a hill about two English miles behind their quarter in a woodland country." Sir John Smith (p. 180), Major-General of Horse, was to no purpose sent with a good party of horse " to draw him from his advantage to engage from the wood and nearer the plain. Lord Hopton knowing that country very well, and that there was a close way through woods and lands from the place where the enemy stood in battell (close order), nearer to Alsford than the place where the army then stood," suspected a design upon that town, which was "five miles from Winchester, and a reasonable strong quarter." A scouting party of horse found some of the enemy on the march, and there was at once a forced march to Alresford of the whole of Hopton's army (p. 177). Lord Hopton was in front with Sir Edward Stowell's brigade of horse, and his own two regiments, one of horse and the other of dragoons, and, being at the head of the brigade with Sir Edward Stowell a mile and a half from Alresford he plainly saw Balfour's cavalry " marching in the lane level with them, and they were not a mile asunder!" He at once ordered his own regiments to ride their very hardest into Alresford. The dragoons were to dismount and make good the barricades and entrances of the town, " the horse to stand together in a body in the market-place to second them as they should see occasion." A galloper was sent to the Earl of Brentford begging him to bring up every possible man at speed. Lord Hopton and Sir Edward Stowell's brigade, " in two or three divisions, for they were 100 horse," rode like madmen to help the cavalry at Alresford. The enemy " made a halt, and took their quarter about Cheriton. The army came late to Alsford; they drew not into the town, but stood in arms that night on a rising ground joyning to the town, fronting towards the enemy." The Earl of Brentford was with difficulty persuaded to lodge in the town, on account of his gout. Lord Hopton always speaks most highly of him. Next day there were cavalry skirmishes with the enemy, " who had taken their quarter in a low field (p. 179), joyning to the Lady Stukely's house, not a mile and a half from our quarter, so as there was but a little hill and a little vale between us. The hill they endeavoured to keep because it covered them from us, and gave them the advantage of looking into us." Cheriton Wood (p. 179) is described as "a little wood upon the top of the hill with a fence about it." That night every horseman was ordered to rest by his horse, every footman by his arms, and every officer in his place. Lord Brentford went to Alresford by special request, thanks to the gout. Lord Hopton slept " at the head of the army in his cloaths." The Earl came out of Alresford again in the morning. His reinforcements were posted on the right, while Hopton's own horse and foot were on the left facing Cheriton Wood. The cover was thick, and " the enemy lined the hedges next to us with store of musqueteers." Colonel Appleyard (p. 181) had 1000 musketeers drawn up in four divisions, and was at first overmatched in the wood. Thereupon Lord Hopton drew off one division of the commanded musketeers under Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Hopton, and ordered them " to run with all possible speed into the wood, upon the enemy's flank, where there was likewise a cross hedge to cover them." They poured in one flanking volley : the enemy began to run, and were chased through the wood. Colonel Appleyard took their strong position, also a Horse Colonel and some prisoners, but no artillery : " they being light guns were drawn off"." Lord Hopton secured this new position, and prepared for a flank attack, sending Sir John Paulet and Colonel Hayes to the Earl of Brentford to say that he was willing to charge the enemy's flank with 1000 horse and 1000 musketeers. The Earl said that enough had been done, since the enemy must now either charge at a disadvantage or retire. Hopton was satisfied. He secured his left wing, and went towards the right wing to confer with the Earl. " And being near the middway upon the brow of the hill he saw troops of the right wing too far advanced, and hotly engaged with the enemy." Sir Edward Stowell's brigade was 1000 strong. He " charging home upon their cannon, was left a prisoner with five wounds upon him." Sir H. Bennet's regiment stood in reserve upon the top of the hill. As to the con- duct of the cavalry, " 300 horse with much ado, stood with Lord Hopton at the entrance into the Common, where all the enemy's horse stood in bodies before him." Most of them belonged to the Queen's regiment. Mons. de Pluvie, their Colonel, had his leg taken off" to the ankle by a cannon-shot. Lord Hopton's own charger received a musket-shot in the shoulder. SHngsby's account (Clarendon MS. 1738.7) says that there were six days* skirmishing before the battle, and that the Parliamentarians lost some eighty men killed in the wood. He thus describes the King's infantry. "The foot keeping their ground in a close body, nor firing till within two pikes' length, and then three ranks at a time, after turning up the bottoms of their muskets ; charging their pikes, and standing close, preserved themselves, and slew many of the enemy." The cavalry covered the retreat. Hopton says, " With great difficulty we got off all our cannon (p. 184). We recovered our first ground upon the ridge of the hill by Alsford towne, with all our army, cannon, and carriages." Truly accounts vary. Slingsby says that no guns or colours were lost during the retreat. The Royalists kept a fierce front, and " the enemy gave us some respite." Colonel Fielding was now ordered to march with the guns and carriages a mile towards Winchester, and then to turn off to the right towards Basing. The foot, covered by ICK) horse, were " to take the lower way through Alsford for Basing," as a mile would bring them amongst enclosures and woods. The horse were to retreat over the downs. Lord Hopton, in command of the foot, remained in Alresford with 1000 musketeers to cover the retreat of the cavalry. The Earl of Brentford with his page stayed to the last, and then rode off, hotly pursued. He halted at each narrow pass for the next two or three miles to see his men get through safely, and, having done all that a soldier could, though " many of his horse brake from him," reached Basing House in safety at one o'clock on the following morning. |
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