The decision which had been reached by Langdale and his officers had not been accepted by many of their troopers. An evidently considerable flow of desertions was underway, and many of the Northern Horse headed back through Lancashire "in small and great companies," harassed by local Pardiamentarian forces (5). It seems clear that the rank and file of Langdale's force were in a state not far from mutiny, and this had an important bearing on events to fo1low.

Unfortunately for the Royadists, the war in Cheshire had just taken a decided turn in Parliament's favour. On August 21st Sir William Brereton's forces had eased a notable thorn in their flesh when they had defeated Colonel John Marrow's Regiment of Horse at Tarvin, and mortally wounded its redoubtable commander. (6)

News of the Royadist move had reached Brereton at his headquarters in Nantwich on the night of Saturday, August 24th, and when, on the evening of August 25th, Langdale quartered in and around the small town of Malpas, some 5 miles north-west of Whitechurch, the Parliamentarian commander was already preparing his countermoves.

Brereton had, in fact, been caught at some disadvantaage. He was fresh1y returned from a meeting in Lancashire with Sir John Meldrum, and the bulk of the Cheshire horse, still re-organising after their victory at Tarvin, were quartered around Middlewich, 11 miles to the northeast. However, Brereton hastily mustered what troops he could, and prepared for action.

The Battle

The fulllest account of the battle is contained in Brereton's own dispatch, although he is annoyingly vague on some details, including its exact location. Though some accounts state that the fighting took place on No Man's Heath, about a mile east of Malpas, the local Parliamentarian writer, Thomas Malbon, who was in a position to know. states that the action was on Oldcastle Heath. a mile to the south-east of Malpas, whilst Brereton himself says the fighting was around hampton Heath, about a mile north-west of No Man's Heath.

Most probably skirmishing occurred at all of these places at various stages in the fighting, with the action referred to by Malbon forming the second phase of the battle.

Sir William Brereton takes up the story: "Two or three of our troops came not in, which made the assault heavier upon the rest; which, together with some seven companies of our foot (whereof three or four were of my own regiment, one of Col. Brooke's, and the rest of Colonel Duckenfield's Regiments), marched out of nantwich upon Sabbeth Day, in the evening. about six of the clock. and called to Malpas the next morning about the spring of day, where my troop charged the enemy three or four times, the other troops which followed not being able to come up in the narrow lanes.

the enemy were judged to be about forty colours, and betwixt two and three thousand in number: The commanders thereof, being many of them Papists (for this was the remainder of the Earl of Newcastle's army sometime commanded by Goring), did fight and come on very gallantly, as Lt. Col. Jones, CaptainSankey, Captain Finch, Captain Church, Lt. burroughs, and divers others.(7)

When we came to the top of the hill, (around Hampton Heath), we discovered the enemy to stand in six or seven several bodies, or divisions. in very good order. But before this time we had killed divers of their colonels and great officers. It was not thought fit to pursue any further, we having beaten two strong parties of them and followed them through Malpas town.

Nor was it safe to engage a hundred against so great a number. and we could not retreat without danger of losing all. Therefore it was resolved that we should stand in the mouth of the Lane, till the Foot came up to relieve them, which were commanded by Major Lothian and Co. Veneables. (8)

But before the foot came up our horse were very much spente, whilst they received three or four fresh charges by several Irish brigades or divisions, wherein was neither man or one foot of ground lost, but rather gained every charge. And when the foot came up, they performed very good execution; yet they were all in danger to be surrounded by the enemy, who as they were sufficently strong, so they wanted not opportunity, when God willed so many of their commanders into our hands, who were killed, wounded and taken prisoners, as will appear by the enclosed.

The common soldiers, upon the losse of so many of their officers, retreated. and we were not able to pursue them far. But had we five hundred horse, we might (by God's blessing) have wholly destroyed this army, whereof there may still be ahout 2,000 remaining, which with Sir William Vaughan's Regiment, and Colonel Trevor's, and the remainder of the Prince's Regiment of Horse, they cannot be but above 3000. (9)

When they were then upon their march towards Shrewsbury, and so to the King: they fled back towards Chester, where they could not be admitted, but were looked UpOI1 very scornily, because they were beaten back by, so inconsiderable a number, which they exceeded above ten- fold.

The enemy being still numerous can overmatch us, it is not improbable they may force their passage to join with the King's army: therefore it were much to be desired that what horse and foot is intended us may be speeded unto these parts. It is uncertain where Prince Rupert is, but some say he is gone towards Shrewsbury, some say towards the King, but it is not known to many in Chester. (10)

Lt. Colonel Jones. Capt. Zanckey. Capt. Finch. Capt. Church and others showed much courage and resolution in standing so valiantly, not shrinking a foot at several charges by the enemy, which did so much amaze the enemy that some of them swore "they were devils not men." (11)

Lord Byron, not surprisingly, considering the ill-feeling between himself and Langdale, wrote scathingly to Prince Rupert of the defeat: "Since Sir Marmaduke Langdale came out of Lankashire another misfortune hath befallen his troopes which were beaten up at Malpas the first night they quartered there by 200 horse and as many foot from Nantwich, the officers did as much as could been, but were deserted by theire soldiers.

Sir Mar himself is shots in the thigh and now lyes under the chierghins hands at Chester, and God be thanked without danger. (12)

Maxey is taken prisoner and some other officers kild and taken, the rest are marched through Wales, being in such a fright, that they are nott yett fitt to come neere an enemy." (13)

Royalist losses were not in fact particularly heavy, but included a number of officers. Among the dead were: Colonel Cuthbert Conyers ( a former commander of a Regiment of Foot, probably now serving as a reformado), Colonel William Baynes, Major Thomas Hesketh, a Lancashire man from Rufford, possibly of Sir William Bradshaw or Sir john Girlington's Regiment, and Major Richard Hartburn (mortally wounded), together with, according to Brereton, up to 150 others, including many officers.

Prisoners included: Major Thomas Cromwell (Duke of York's (Samuel Tuke's) Regt), Major William Maxey (Sir Charles Lucas H.): Maxey was in command of the regt, as both its colonel and Lt. Col. had been casualties at Marston Moor. Major Thomas Crathorne (wounded) ( John Forcer. H.) Capt. Thomas Clavering (John Forcer. H.) Captain Barker ( Duke of York. H ) Lt. Mountain (Montagne?) Some other officers and about 20 troopers were also taken.

Parliamentarian losses in the affair were extremely light, for apart from Lieutenant-Colonel Jones, shot in that vulnerable spot, the thigh, and some of Brereton's own troop "very slightly wounded", the Parliamentarian account admitted to no losses.

Byron's estimate of the effect of this defeat on the Northern Horse was entirely correct. Hopes of making a direct march to join the King at an end, they recoiled into Central Wales, and ended up in Monmouthshire, where they terrorised the civilian population in their customary fashion before eventually being extricated in October by Charles Gerrard, and joining the Oxford Army on 1st November, having missed the Second Battle of Newbury, where their presence might have made an important difference to the outcome of that day.

Units Present