Wednesday 20 March 2013

9 May Parliament's fortunes rise

Early May has seen Dorchester and Weymouth fall into Parliament's hands. Their fleet seems to be supporting a force marching east along the south coast. Bristol is held by Brereton and Oxford is under threat from the Earl of essex. Further north armies continue to contest Selby. Word is that several thousand scots prisoners have been release by Newcastle to make the journey home on parole of not taking up arms again. Plymouth is firmly under Maurice's control however.

Wednesday 6 March 2013

April's news- Royalists on the up...

Recent reports just in outline the current situation at the beginning of May. Newcastle has been liberated from the occupying Scots by Byron. In the south Plymouth has fallen to Maurice, leaving all the south west in Royalist hands and Maurice with a strong army able to move unopposed where ever desired. In the midlands the seige of Newark by Manchester's Roundhead army has been lifted. Manchester appears to have moved north towards Newcastle's forces at York. Prince Rupert is still conspicuous by his absence through injury. However, Selby is back in the hands of Parliament thanks to Fairfax, as is Dorchester in the south- where the navy appears to be supporting a small Roundhead force march away from Maurice. Word is also coming in that Brereton has captured a lightly defended Bristol from the Royalists. Waller's force has left Essex around Oxford and marched west. Essex has been left to deal with the King and Hopton's combined army. In Scotland, Montrose has won a famous victory but word is that his forces have marched south to England again - looking to locate the retreating covenanters who were dealt such a crushing blow north of York by Rupert, Byron and Newcastle. Although word is that the Scots have not given up hope of influencing the situation in the north and still have a fighting force in the field. Leven has retired to his estate but Leslie is now in charge. Powder shortages have been reported across the country although all sides seem to be making efforts to replenish quickly. Parliament appears to have thrown all its resources into the ring so may have little influence on the armies in the next few weeks. So with three major battles fought in four months- two indecisive and one a victory for the Royalists - it seems the die is cast for further confrontation in the next few weeks that could well determine the outcome of the conflict.. Will Maurice's south western army make the difference??