Roundway Down

Date: 13th July 1643
Location: Devizes, Wiltshire
Parliamentarian Commander: Sir William Waller
Royalist Commander: Lord Henry Wilmot, Earl of Rochester
Victor: Royalists

Lord Hopton's army, still badly weakened from the fighting at Lansdown, retired South-East to Devizes. Waller, knowing that he had an advantage, took every opportunity to harass Hopton's rear.

Upon reaching Devizes, Hopton sent his cavalry on a mission to Oxford to get help. Devizes was unfortified and would not withstand a siege for long. The cavalry set off towards Salisbury, to make the parlimentary troops think that they were fleeing, then turned towards Oxford.

Waller, knowing that Hopton was in a bad position, took his time in besieging the town. He rested and fed his troops well, whilst using his artillery to weaken the defenders.

However, with the news that Lord Wilmot was returning with more cavalry, Waller hastily drew up his forces on Roundway Down, to the North of Devizes.

Waller deployed with his infantry in the centre and cavalry on both flanks, as was normal. He outnumbered the royalist force considerably, and their horses were tired from the 40 mile ride, so Waller had some reason to be optimistic.

Sir Arthur Haselrigg's 'Lobsters' rode out to meet Wilmot's own brigade. Wilmot responded by charging. For some reason, the charge was not met at the charge, which put Haselrigg at a disadvantage, and he was beaten back.

However, Haselrigg rallied his men and went forward again. A second charge, by Wilmot and Sir John Byron, was too much for the troopers, though, and they fled to the West.

Wilmot now co-ordinated his three brigades and charged the remaining parliamentary horse. They could not withstand his charge, and routed off the field. Unaware of the sharp drop on the other side of Oliver's Castle, to the West, many were killed as they rode over the ridge.

Wilmot's cavalry cannot penetrate Waller's ranks. Waller's infantry, however, were more resistant to the cavalry, and stood firm. The royalist cavalry could not penetrate their ranks, and could not win the day without support.

Support, though, was forthcoming. Hopton, realising the position, sallied forth from Devizes. This new attack from their rear by infantry caused the parliamentary line to break up. Waller's remaining forces disintegrated under the combined attack, and his army practically ceased to exist.

As a result of this loss, Waller was unable to replace the Earl of Essex as Lord General of the parliamentary army. Also, with no parliamentary forces left in the West country, the royalists had won an important victory.