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On the llth of January 1643 Prince Rupert successfully stormed Cirencester with a mixed force of horse, dragoons and foot drawn from the Oxford garrison. The four regiments of foot in Oxford, the Lifeguard, Charles Gerard's, Sir William Pennyman's and Sir Ralph Dutton's, all contributed to this force, these "commanded' foot being placed under the overall command of Colonel Lewis Kirkc, a possible relation of Captain Charles Kirke of Dutton's. [13]
In April 1643 Dutton's formed part of the King's army which tried, unsuccessfully, to relieve Reading. With the fall of Reading to Parliament, the King's Army withdrew to a specially prepared camp near the village of Culham just outside Abingdon. The army remained here for six weeks being re-equipped as far as the royalist's limited resources would permit. Dutton's Regiment was apparently one of the largest regiments present with 10 full companies. On 23rd May the Royalist Ordnance Papers record the deliverv of 49 pikes to the regiment and listed the ten companies in order of precedence as;
- 'His Owne Company (Colonel Sir Ralph Dutton).
- His L:Col (Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen Hawkins).
- His S:Major (Serjeant-Major Degory Collins).
- Capt. Palmer.
- Capt. Kirke.
- Capt. Atkins.
- Capt. Radcliff.
- Capt. Hopkins.
- Capt. Hull.
- Capt. Loe.' [14]
In late May, some of the senior regimental officers in the army, led by Colonel John Belasyse, presented a nine article petition to the King expressing certain grievances as to the poor state of equipment of the army. Of the thirteen regiments present in the camp, the senior officers of eleven regiments signed the petition. The staff of the two regiments that refused to sign were Sir Ralph Dutton's and Sir Edward Stradling's. [15]
Dutton's regiment was to form part of the main field army for the whole of that year. On Saturday 15th July it was recorded as being in Oxtord with the rest of the army where;
'all the common soldiers then at Oxford were new apparrelled, some all in red, coates, breeches, and moonteers; & some all in blewe.' [16]
As the regiments raised by Lord Hopton appear to have received the blue suits, it is most likely that Dutton's received red suits. On 18th July it left Oxford with Prince Rupert for the west and on the 26th of July it took part in the storming of Bristol where it formed part of Lord Grandison's Brigade. Grandisons Brigade launched valiant assaults on the forts of Stokes Croft and Prior's Hill and Dutton himself was described as leading his Regiment in person up to the walls, 'pike in hand'. [17] Although Grandison's men did reach the walls, the petard placed on the gate of Stokes Croft Fort failed to destroy them and all of Grandison's regiments suffered heavy casualties in the ditch's of the torts, the young Lord Grandison himself being slain. Fortunately, one of the other assaults did succeed and Bristol fell, albeit at heavy cost. Dutton's Regiment, now almost halved in strength since the start of the campaign, then took part in the siege of Gloucester where Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen Hawkins again took field command as Colonel Dutton had been given command of a new tertia composed of those units formerly in Belasyse's tertia but not stationed back at Bristol. The men ot the regiment laboured for many days in the rain sodden trenches, suffering more loss from sickness than battle.
After the royalist failure to take Gloucester, Dutton's regiment marched with the King's army to Newbury where it fought in the battle on the royalist right wing in Colonel John Belasyse's Brigade. During rhe battle they were heavily involved in the assaults across Skinners Green against regiments of the London Trained Bands where they, along with the other regiments of the right wing, suffered considerable loss. In the aftermath of Newbury the Earl of Essex abandoned Reading into which the King then put a substantial garrison under the Governorship of Sir Jacob Astley. This included Dutton's Regiment, now fielding less than 300 of the 800 men it had begun the campaign with back in July.
Sir Ralph Dutton's Foot spent the winter of 1643/44 in Reading where, their red coats having worn out on campaign, they probably received a new issue of cloth's, but this time in white. Certainly from now on they are referred to as 'white coats'. There is also, recorded in the Royalist Ordnance Papers, a general issue of 'bandoleers' and 'Baggs with Girdles & Hangers to yem', to the Reading garrison in March 1644. [18] Unfortunately the reference does not specify who got what, although if previous practice was continued, then each regiment would have received a proportion of each item relative to their strength.
Back in early December 1643, Sir Ralth Dutton had ceased to be Colonel of the regiment, taking up an appointment at the Court in Oxford and, on 6th December, the King made Stephen Hawkins Colonel. [19] This appears to have been part of a general process by which professional soldiers or 'swordsmen' replaced their non-military social superiors. Initially, Degory Collins became Lieutenant-colonel with John Palmer becoming Serjeant-Major. One of Hawkins first appointments was to appoint a new captain to command Dutton's own company and the request for this has survived in the papers at the British Library;
'Mr Walker,
Be pleased to doo me the favour to give a Commision to George Grimes to be Capt. and to that company that was Sr. Ralph Duttons in doing such you will oblige.
Your most humble servant,
Stephen Hawkins.
Reading yee Mth of December 1643.' [20]
In late March/early April 1644 there were further changes to the command structure when Degory Collins received command of a new auxiliary regiment in the Oxford garrison and hence, John Palmer became Lieutenant-Colonel with the next senior Captain, Charles Kirke becoming Serjeant-Major under Hawkins. Meanwhile, the Regiment was able to recruit some new men to fill the gaps left by the previous years hard campaigning, these new men coming mainly from the Oxford/Reading area including a number of "Oxford Scholars". [21]
In late March 1644 a contingent of every regiment in the Reading garrison, including Hawkins' Regiment, contributed to a "marching regiment" under Colonel George Lisle which, with other contingents, marched under the command of the Earl of Forth to join Hopton's Army in Hampshire in time for the Battle of Cheriton on 29th March. [22] This composite regiment had a strength of around 1000 men and was composed soley of musketeers, each regiments contingent being led by its major or lieutenant-colonel (there is no record of who led Hawkins' contingent, although it may have been the lieutenant-colonel, as Charles Kirke's service record does not mention his service at Cheriton). [23] Lisle's composite regiment formed the advance guard the night before the battle as it was composed of veterans and were able to send a timely warning of Waller's approach to Hopton and Forth. On the day of battle they fought on the royalist right wing commanded by the Earl of Forth and although heavily engaged do not appear to have suffered major loss. Towards the end of the battle, Lisle's men lined the hedgerows to cover the retreat of the defeated royalist army successfully fending oft any significant pursuit by Waller belore nightfall. By early April Lisle's men had returned to their parent regiments in Reading. [24]
Hawkins' regiment itself remained in the Reading garrison into April 1644 and there is a highly detailed muster record taken by Symonds at this time. He records the regiment as now only fielding nine companies which broke down as follows:-
9 Captains, 9 Lieutenants, 9 Ensigns, 10. Gentlemen-of-the-Army, 19 Sergeants, 29 Corporals, 19 Drummers, 171 Souldiers.
There was in addition the Colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel and Sergcant-Major. [25]
A few days after this muster was taken, on 15th April, Hawkins was appointed governor of Greenland House although his regiment did not take up residence until a month later when it replaced the existing small garrison of commanded men from the Oxford garrison. Greenland House stood two miles north of Henley-on-Thames on the north bank of the River Thames and it had held a small royalist garrison since the previous November. Its strategic location not only blocked all river traffic it was also in a position to raid road traffic between London and the West. With Basing House and Donmngton Castle to the south-west, these three royalist garrisons seriously affected Parliamentary communications. What made Greenland House the most important of these garrisons was its strategic position on the River Thames and its location as the closest royalist garrison to London. On 15th May, The Earl of Forth, Lord General of the King's Army, wrote to Sir Edward Nicholas, Secretary of the Kings Council of War;
'We are slighting the works here (at Reading) with all speed that may be according to the materials we have, and by Thursday night we shall make them unserviceable for the enemy.........We have sent this morning Colonel Hawkins, a very able soldier, with his regiment to keep Greenland House (near Henley), and have sent thither sufficient ammunition and all the bread that came from Oxford; we have also given the Governor, Colonel Hawkins, warrant to bring in victuals and contribution out of Buckinghamshire for maintaining and paying the garrison, and have withdrawn from thence Sir Charles Blunt, his deputy, and the commanded men under him, leaving in the place victuals, cannon, and ammunition for its better defence.' [26]
When, on May 16th, the 3,000 strong Reading garrison was finally evacuated to strengthen the King's field army, Greenland House became completely exposed to local Parliamentary forces which held Henley only two miles to the south. Within a few days several hundred foot, a hundred and fifty horse and two to three cannon arrived from Henley to blockade and lay siege to the House.
The siege of Greenland House was to be short but dramatic. Having cut all river traffic to London and having carried out a number of successful raids on Parliamentary road convoy's, this garrison became a priority for reduction. The works around the House are recorded as being very strong and any question of taking it by storm was ruled out due to the likely cost in lives. [27] In the early days of the siege a number of senior Parliamentary officers came out of Henley, where the Earl of Essex had his headquarters at that moment, to view the House and its works. On one of these occasions, Major-General Philip Skippon managed to have his horse wounded by a shot from the House. There also appears to have been some displays of bravado from the garrison, a May pole was erected on the roof of the House and they sent a very politely worded message to Essex, inviting him to visit the House! Essex had more important business before Oxford and had to decline the invitation to call on the House, but he made the reply, 'that he would not onely call but knocke', at a later date. [28]
While the high cost of storming Greenland House ruled out such a rapid remedy to Essex, its blockade was pressed close enough to end royalist raids on the surrounding area, a point pressed home when, in late May, a raiding party of Hawkins' men were intercepted and 14 captured. On 30th May, the Parliamentarian newspaper, Mercunus Civicus, carried the following report;
"On Saturday the part of the Lord Generals Forces who were designed to lie neere Greenland House, surprised 14 of that Garrison, who were going forth thence upon some plundering designe or other, some of them were men of note, and divers of them Oxford Schollers. Their names are as followeth:
- Ensigne William Browne.
- Ensigne William Bethicke.
- Ensigne Thomas Franklin.
- John Lix; Clerke.
- Serjeant Thomas Parker.
- Serjeant Thomas Maros.
- Serjeant Oliver Morton
- John Yong, Corporall.
- John Prile.
- Trustrom Smith.
- Edward Heues.
- John King.
- William Jenkins.
- Nathaniel Clarke.
Divers of which persons being strictly examined doe confesse That this house is very strong, well furnished with all manner of necessaries, that they have therein about 900 weight of Cheese, 900 Briskets, great store of Meade, Bacon, and other provisions (which they had plundered from the Countrey) 40 barrels of Powder, 7 peeces of Ordinance, viz foure Drakes, two Culverins, and a Sacre, and that there are in it about 300 men.' [29]
The reported strength of the garrison matches that recorded in the royalist sources, the bulk of the 300 men being from Hawkins Regiment, the balance being made up of gunners from the Oxford garrison. [30]
By early June some 300 foot from the Windsor garrison along with six cannon under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Bradley had joined the existing forces from Hendley around the House. The siege continued into late June with the House under constant bombardment and blockade, but only a limited impression seems to have been made on its defensive works. On the 29th June, 'The True Informer', reproduced the following letter from one of the besiegers;
'Greenland House.
By Letters from the forces before Greenland-House, dated June 26. It is thus advertised: Sir, for news here since my last, it is onely this, we have planted three of our biggest Sacres within Musket shot of the House, and yesterday we sent them 30.shot, which much shattered the house, and amazed the Garrison that were in it, our forces that are before it, are (blessed be God) in an healthful condition, though wee are forced to continue our watchmgs very strictly, and sometimes can got little or no rest for seven nights together, we have before the house above 300 Foot, under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel Bradley, which came from Windsor, besides 400 Foot which we have in Henley; our Horse not being above 150. and under the command of Captaine Terrill, Captaine Nasa, and Captaine Aldridge. The Governor of Greenland-House is Colonell Stephen Hawkins, who is Landlord of Bishops Court in the Old-Bayley, he lately sent out about an hundred to fall upon our Quarters, but they were soon beat in, and two of them killed.' [31]
Back in early June, Major-General Richard Browne had been appointed by Parliament to reduce all the royalist garrisons between London and Oxford, of which Greenland House was to be the first. His arrival was delayed though by having to go to Waller's aid after that Generals defeat at The Battle of Cropredy Bridge. Meanwhile, on 8th July, a royalist relief force from Oxford, under the command of Sir Thomas Lundsford, had managed to reach the House to bring it some limited assistance. But as Browne was approaching with some 7,000 troops and a considerable number of heavy guns, the relief force quickly left and on 10th July Browne s overwhelming force lay close siege to Greenland House. He had brought with him some mortars and these very quickly rained great destruction upon the defensive works and House. The royalist accounts say that this bombardment ignited a powder store, but there is some question over this given it made a convenient reason for the rapid surrender of the House. Essentially, that same night after Browne's arrival, Hawkins sent his Lieutenant-Colonel, John Palmer and Captain Bradley into Henley to treat for terms, it being obvious the House would not survive such a bombardment, whether or not a powder store had been destroyed. Browne himsell was under pressure to bring the siege to a rapid conclusion, London was cut off from its wood supply around Reading and the siege of Basing was in desperate need of support. Hence Browne agreed very favourable terms for the surrender of the House, allowing the whole garrison to march away with its arms and colours to Oxford, which it did the next day, llth July. The House and its defensive works were then completely raised to the ground by Browne before he left for the siege of Basing House.[32]
Part 2 Continued in ECW Times #52
REFERENCES
- p.39. "The Royalist Army in the First Civil War', Dr.Ian Roy. (1963); p.72. "Memoirs of the Dutton Family of Sherborne,in Gloucestershire', Blacker Morgan. (1899).
- p.259. "The True Informer' for 22nd-29th June 1644, The Thomason Tracts (E.53 [4])
- p.89. "The Army Lists of the Roundheads and Cavaliers', Edward Peacock. (1874).
- Harley. B.L. Add. Mss. 6852. ff.253. "Papers Relating to the Civil War, etc.'
- p.89. Peacock.
- p.85. Peacock.
- B.L. Add. Mss. 6852. ff.253.
- p.16. "Edgehill', Brigadier Peter Young. (1967).
- p.293. Ibid.
- p.159. "The Royalist Ordnance Papers, 1642-46', Dr.Ian Roy, in Vol.42-44, 1964, Oxfordshire Record Society.
- p.171. "The Royalist Army in the First Civil War', Dr.Ian Roy. (1963); p. 186. "The Royalist Ordnance Papers'. (1964).
- p.8. Issue 27, "English Civil War Notes and Queries', (Partizan Press).
- p.l87. "Edgehill', Young.
- p.240. "The Royalist Ordnance Papers', Part 11. (1975).
- p.17. Issue 44, "English Civil War Notes and Queries', (Partizan Press).
- p.103. "Life and Times of Anthony Wood', reproduced in Oxford Historical Society. (1891); p.119. Journal of Sir Samuel Luke', ed.by I.Philip. Oxford Record Society. (1950-53).
- p. 117. "Royalist Officers in England and Wales, 1642-1660', Dr.P.RNewman. (1981).
- p.333. "The Royalist Ordnance Papers', Part 11. (1975).
- Harley. B.L. Add. Mss. 6852. ff.253.
- Ibid., ff.247.
- pp.518-519. "Mercurius Civicus' for 23rd-30th. May 1644, The Thomason Tracts (E.49 [34]).
- p.103. "Cheriton 1644', John Adair. (1973).
- p. 124. Ibid.
- p. 137. Ibid.
- Harley. B.L. Add. Mss. 986. ff.97.
- p.163. "Calendar of State Papers. Domestic 1644'.
- pp.147-148. "The Spie' for 30th.May-6th.June 1644, The Thomason Tracts (E.50 [19]).
- p.504. "Mercurius Civicus' for 16th-23rd. May 1644, The Thomason Tracts (E.49 [12]).
- pp.518-519. "Mercurius Civicus' for 23rd-30th. May 1644, The Thomason Tracts (E.49 [34]).
- p.400. "The Royalist Ordnance Papers', Part 11. (1975).
- p.259. "The True Informer' for 22-29th June 1644, The Thomason Tracts (E.53 [4]).
- p.341. "Calendar of State Papers. Domestic 1644'.
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