Time for the next encounter in my North Wessex For King & Parliament English Civil War campaign.

After the battle just north of Bisham Abbey, Sir Christopher Grey has led his Parliamentarian army (reinforced with more Scots mercenaries) east in an attempt to loop around the Royalists whom, he believes, are regrouping before moving north on their existing axis of attack.

The Roundheads get as far as Cookham Dean before they realise that the Cavaliers have been tipped off and have managed to get a blocking force across the Parliamentarian line of advance.

Battle will once more be joined!

The Field of Battle

The Parliamentarians (commanded by Yours Truly) advance in column from the top of the table. The Royalists, commanded by John, lie in wait athwart Deans Lane. Whyteladyes Lane is the road, bottom right, running into Dean’s Lane.

The Roundheads

At the head of the column is a Highlander battalia: some of MacLeod’s Oathmen. They are followed by three Scottish standard battalia and then a brigade of English foot. The Parliamentarian horse is to the right of the column (left as you look at the photograph) moving along a smaller lane in an attempt to avoid congestion.

The Royalists

Two brigades of infantry, one of them pike-heavy; two brigades of horse, one each side of the infantry.

Another View of the Royalist Position

Sir William Ray's Brigade (Royalist)

Note the Oxford Musketeers on the right. This commanded shot battalia would go on to destroy almost the entire Scottish pike element.

Another View of the Roundheads

Scots at the front, English behind, Dutch horse on the far side!

The Horse Moves Forward

The battle opened with the horse on both sides moving forward.

The Roundhead Dutch horse started the game quite far from the action, so needed to get up to the schwerpunkt as fast as possible: in the event, two units managed to do so, but one got slightly left behind.

Likewise, the Royalist right flank horse brigade (Stafferton’s Brigade) started the game behind the main infantry line, so needed to thread their way through to the centre.

Note that the lead Highlander unit has already destroyed the Royalist Forlorn Hope (“Gauldie’s Men”) but got themselves disordered in the process.

The Highlanders and the Royalist Horse Face Off To One Another

The Parliamentarian Horse Need To Move Forward Faster!

The Red Meeples represent veteran units. The blue dice are Dash, the white dice are Ammo.

Manoeuvres in the Centre

The Royalist horse move left whilst the Parliamentarians desperately try to sort themselves out. Moving from column to line in a restricted space is proving difficult!

The Left Flank

Meanwhile the other Royalist horse face off against their Dutch opposition.

Oh do come on!

Overview of the Battle so far

The Main Infantry Lines Clash

Note the Oxford Musketeers on the far side have crossed the hedge.

The Cavalry Clash Too

No matter who initiates the charge, the Royalist Swedish horse (whilst they still have dash) always have the initiative.

Note that the Parliamentarians are going up a gentle hill.

Face to Face

The 1st Cookham Militia confront some of MacLeod’s mercenary Scots.

Face to Face II

Derrick’s Horse confront another of MacLeod’s battalia.

Lots Happening!

At the top of the picture, the Oxford Musketeers have turned to outflank the Scottish line and blown away the first of MacLeod’s pike battalia.

At the bottom, Derrick’s Horse have been destroyed.

Another Close Up of the Two Main Lines

And Another

Meanwhile, the (Royalist) Woodhurst Horse have punched through the first Roundhead line...

…and are keeping the second from interfering with the demise of the Scots.

A Second Overview Shot

The Oxford Musketeers have blown away a second Scottish battalia, with the third and final Scottish battalia destroyed by one of the Cookham Militia units.

Things are not looking good for Cromwell’s lot!

A General Melee Breaks Out

But the Parliamentarians have already forfeited a lot of coins and (to the right) the Royalists have battalia in reserve.

A Close Up of the Fight in the Centre

And Another

"Little John" Boulters, an Admirable Substitute for his Wounded Father

At this point the Parliamentarians finally ran out of coins and I was forced to admit defeat: a fairly crushing defeat!

Aftermath

It had been a great game, even if I had lost!

The truth was that I never really got the Parliamentary battle line properly sorted, which allowed the Royalists to defeat my brigades piecemeal. Annoying, as before the battle I’d specifically told John that I needed to avoid that happening!

Robert Avery