Prince Maurice of the Palatinate 1621-1652

On 23rd October 1642 the Battle of Edge Hill was fought at Edge Hill [Map]. The Royal army was commanded by [his uncle] King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland [aged 41] (with his son King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 12] present), [his brother] Prince Rupert Palatinate Simmern 1st Duke Cumberland [aged 22] and Richard Spencer [aged 49] commanded the army that included Prince Maurice of the Palatinate [aged 21], Richard Byron 2nd Baron Byron [aged 36], Lucius Carey 2nd Viscount Falkland [aged 32], Charles Cavendish [aged 22], Henry Newton aka Puckering 3rd Baronet [aged 24], Spencer Compton 2nd Earl of Northampton [aged 41], Thomas Salusbury 2nd Baronet [aged 30], John Byron 1st Baron Byron [aged 43] and William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 55].

George Stewart 9th Seigneur D'Aubigny [aged 24] was killed.

Of the Parliamentary army Basil Feilding 2nd Earl Denbigh [aged 34] and Robert Devereux 3rd Earl Essex [aged 51]. Oliver St John 5th Baron St John [aged 39] was wounded.

Samuel Sandes [aged 27] commanded a troop of horse.

Richard Sandes [aged 26] was killed.

Thomas Strickland [aged 20] was knighted on the field for his gallantry.

Henry Hunloke 1st Baronet [aged 24] was knighted by King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland.

William Dugdale [aged 37] witnessed the battle and subsequently surveyed the battlefield.

John Hinton [aged 38] was present.

Edward Verney [aged 52] was killed.

John Assheton [aged 29] was killed.

Robert Bertie 1st Earl Lindsey [aged 59] was killed. His son Montagu [aged 34] succeeded 2nd Earl Lindsey, 15th Baron Willoughby de Eresby.

William Pennyman 1st Baronet [aged 35] commanded a regiment, of which he served as Colonel, which he led for the King.

Edward Stradling 2nd Baronet [aged 42] fought for the King, was captured imprisoned for seven months, and died a month after his release.

Colonel Slingsby's Relations of the Battles of the Civil War. Within three daies after [on 13th July 1643] Prince Mawrice [aged 22] and the Lord Wilmott [aged 30] comes to our releife with a good strength of horse ; of which the Enemy gaue us notice by his drawing entirely of from the Towne and ordering his Army vpon Roundway-downe.

About two of the clocke the kings horse appeare ; about three they charge the Enemys vantguard, which was suddenly disorder'd, by whose helpe and fowle retreate the rest was the like ; soe that on a sudden, wee could see the Enemy's whole body of horse face about and run with speede, and our horse in close bodye fyring in theire reare, till they had chased them downe the hill in a steepe place, where neuer horse went downe nor up before : Waller went in soe much hast that hee left all his body off ffootte and cannon standing upon the very crowne of the hill, who for a while made gallant resistance against our horse, defending themselues in hopes theire generall would bee soe mindfull of them, as to retourne into the feild and fetch of his ffootte and cannon ; but perceiuing hee stay'd too long, and that our Cornishe Regiments was comming apace upon them, they thought it not soe safe to stay for theire encounter, and therefore began to mooue towardes the next enclosures hopeing to make theire retreate ; but drawing ouer the downes, seeing seuerall bodyes of our horse pressing hard upon them on all sides, they began to fall in peices, and melt into such disorder that they suffer'd miserably; they were about 1800 in number of which aboue 600 was then slaine, the rest all wounded and taken with their coullors and armes, and nine brasse peice of cannon.

From hence the kings Army marched to Bathe, which place with some castles and petty garrisons neare adioyning was quickly surrendered into our hands. From thence after some daies the Army remoou'd to Keynsham, and from thence to the Leaguer of Bristoll, lying downe on the West side of the Cittye.