ABSTRACT
The battle of Lostwithiel created grave consternation amongst the parliamentary forces in the Home Counties and to the east. Prince Rupert and Ralph Hopton retired to Bristol to prepare for the operation on 5 October. Ten days later, the King’s army itself moved, advancing to Salisbury. On the 21st, the King reached Kingsclere, only to give up the idea of relief, and to march to Red Heath, south of Newbury, on 22 October. The parliamentary commanders, however, were proving keen on provoking a battle, and on 25 October marched to Thatcham, three miles from the royalist army at Newbury and by nightfall on the 26th the armies faced each other north of the town. The royalists appeared to be in a particularly strong position, their lines drawn up around the fortified points of Newbury itself, Donnington Castle and Shaw House, and protected by the River Kennet to the rear and the Lambourn on the left flank.
