Just three days before the disaster of Marston Moor for the Royalists, King Charles himself directed a rebuff to a prowling Parliamentary army under William Waller at Cropredy Bridge, near Banbury.
Waller had been observing the King's movements for some time when he spotted an opportunity to strike over the River Cherwell near the present day Oxford Canal as it passes through the village of Cropredy. The King had allowed a gaping hole to develop between his lead / centre elements which were near Hays Bridge and his rear which was more than a mile behind. Seeing his chance to bite off a whole chunk of the King's rear end, Waller pounced.
Waller sent Lieutenant General Middleton's cavalry (including Battlefield Biker favourite, Haselrige's "lobsters") to make contact with the King's rear. This was a raging success, but as so often happened with successful cavalry charges of the time, the pursuit went too far. The Royalist rear guard commander, the Earl of Cleveland, took the opportunity to wade into the Parliamentary foot and guns which had been left behind by Middleton at Cropredy Bridge. Middleton's cavalry realised what had happened and returned to scatter Cleveland's cavalry, but not until after they captured the Roundhead guns and their commander Colonel Wemyss. Cleveland did not get all of his own way in Middleton's absence as the Roundhead infantry stood their ground, crucially keeping Cropredy Bridge.
In the meantime, Waller with cavalry crossed the Slat Mill ford and attacked uphill near Williamscott and was promptly sent packing by the Earl of Northampton's cavalry. Waller decided that discretion was the better part of valour and retired to Bourton Hill to over-watch continuing skirmishes around the bridge. Finally, the result was Parliamentary forces staring down the King's forces from Cropredy Bridge for the better part of two days. The King stole away when he learned of reenforcements coming to Waller.
Although a tactical stalemate, the King kept most of his Oxford army to fight another day and Waller's opportunity to hurt Charles significantly was lost as Waller's army disintegrated with mutiny and desertion soon thereafter.

Ride Recommendation

This ride rides takes in battlefield area around the eponymous town and bridge and then opens up into some great A roads to Daventry, Southam and Banbury. Finally, I've included a short finish on the farm lanes around the older battlefield of Edgcote, where a major battle of the War of the Roses was fought.

Use Ordnance Survey Landranger 151. The battlefield is centred on SP 477460. If using a road map, the battlefield is located east and northeast of Cropredy Bridge.

If there is one discernable point where Oliver Cromwell's star emerged from mere cavalry commander to driving force in the New Model Army, the battle of Naseby may be it. Cromwell convinced his commander, Fairfax, to move to an adjacent, more neutral hill, so as to encourage the Royalists to attack. Cromwell was so confident that he wanted to goad the Royalists, especially Prince Rupert, into a fight by giving them a better chance. This level of confidence was not misplaced. Cromwell's actions, as well as the actions of Prince Rupert, were to confirm their reputations. Rupert was the European shock trooper with elan and Cromwell was the disciplined English soldier and stern Puritan. At Naseby, both armies put forward their "A" teams with Prince Rupert, Prince Maurice and the King himself present on the Royal side. Fairfax, Cromwell and Skippon led the Parliamentarian's New Model Army. There would be no denying the superior force after Naseby.

Although the King was present, Rupert commanded the Royal lines. Rupert's plan was to crush the Roundhead left with his signature cavalry charge, which he would lead with Prince Maurice, and then cross behind the Roundhead centre to turn Cromwell's flank. All of this was to happen as the Royalist infantry tied down the middle with a quick and unannounced push (i.e. no artillery preparation). Cromwell was supposed to be kept in check by Langdale's cavalry and a rough ground of rabbit warrens and heavy gorse. The first part went well as Roundhead Ireton's cavalry (Parliamentarian left) was beaten from the field. However, Rupert's cavalry did not cross behind the New Model Army's infantry centre, either due to battlefield congestion (the New Model Army infantry reserve?) or through their excessive exuberance. Eventually, Rupert's cavalry ended up in the Parliamentarian rear attacking the baggage trains. One might say it was unplanned, but one must ignore Rupert's previous actions to call it unlikely. The Royalist infantry held more than their own and actually worked through the New Model Army's infantry, only to find the reserve behind the ridge.

The view from the center of the New Model Army Infantry looking North to Dust Hill

Unfortunately for the Royalists, Cromwell also performed to stereotype. After working through the rough ground on the Royalist left, Cromwell attacked and dispersed Langdale's cavalry. Then Cromwell worked over the Lifeguard who had come to the aid of the cavalry only to join the flight. However, rather than pursue the Royalist cavalry off the field, Cromwell held a blocking position as his cavalry reserve completed the encirclement of virtually the entire Royalist infantry. The King watched the whole thing unfold he and Rupert tried to rally his cavalry for a counter attack, but thought better of it as he watched his infantry surrender. To add insult to injury, Cromwell's cavalry harried them all the way to Leicester.

Naseby was an unmitigated disaster for the King. Virtually all of his northern infantry was captured or killed. He could never recover from the loss of such a force this late in the war. The war would drag on, but the cause was militarily lost on these Northamptonshire fields.

Motorcycle Ride Recommendation

Try this ride to and from Northampton that criss-crosses the battlefield north of the village Naseby. There are two major monuments on these roads with the main one, due north of Naseby on the Sibbertoft Road, giving a sweeping view of the battlefield and an interpretative board.

Book Recommendations: Cromwell's War Machine & Naseby from Amazon.co.uk

Map Recommendation: Ordnance Survey Landranger 141 (Kettering & Corby) from AbeBooks.com or Amazon.com

Accor Hotels in the Northampton area

On 30 January 1649, King Charles I was beheaded on a scaffold at Whitehall in London.

After putting the country through a bloody civil war from 1642-1646 that his Royalist forces lost, Charles I launched another attempt in in 1647 which was quickly, but bloodily put down. The Army, under Oliver Cromwell, which wielded enormous power at the time was furious, so when they captured Charles I, they proceeded to try him. Charles I would not answer to the court as he felt it was unfit to try him. The court proceeded anyway and convicted and sentenced him to death on 27 January 1649.

On the day of his beheading, it was so cold that Charles I put on two shirts to ward off the cold, lest he be thought to be trembling at his fate. Charles I dignity in his execution made him a martyr to the Royalist cause. Some subjects in England still vociferously hold that Cromwell was the traitor, not their King.

Read here for Charles I speech on the scaffold.

Motorcycle Ride Recommendation

Start in Windsor and ride into central London to Buckingham Palace, along the Mall, into Whitehall, on to Parliament and ending up at the National Army Museum in Chelsea.

Book Recommendation: Why Was Charles I Executed? from AbeBooks.co.uk or Amazon.co.uk

Map Recommendation: London Bike Guide from AbeBooks.co.uk or Amazon.co.uk

On 10 January 1642, King Charles I had to leave London as the unrest against him grew. He had recently tried to arrest five members of parliament on treason charges, but failed. His coach had been surrounded by a mob when he had demanded that those who were sheltering the five members should give them up. This was enough to scare Charles and his Queen, Henrietta, into leaving London. They first decamped to Hampton Court, then Windsor Castle and finally to Oxford to set up an alternative government to the Parliament in London. Parliament was busy activating its militias, called the "Trained Bands." Although there were some attempts at reconciliation, the train of events leading to civil war was already underway.

Books from Amazon.co.uk

Motorcycle Ride

I'm sure it was faster for Charles by horse and carriage, but if you don't mind fighting London traffic, you can retrace the royal route to exile. Start in Whitehall, then to Hampton court, then to Windsor, then to Oxford.

Maps