ABSTRACT
Despite Clarendon’s hints to the contrary, failure to destroy the Earl of Essex’s army at Newbury was not followed by paralysis, as the king’s council of war tore itself apart in a storm of argument and recrimination. 1 Before the end of September, a new multi-faceted strategy was in place for the winter months. Its implementation was entrusted to commanders whose reputations had not been damaged by the siege of Gloucester and the Newbury campaign. The first was Prince Rupert. He had distanced himself from the siege, and his cavalry brigades had stopped Essex’s army in its tracks on Wash Common. The second was Lord Hopton, who had not taken part in the campaign but had done all he could to supply the king’s army with recruits. The third was Sir John, now Lord Byron, whose inspirational leadership at brigade level at Roundway Down and Newbury had restored a reputation clouded by what had happened to the second line of cavalry at Edgehill. Finally, there was Sir William Vavasour, whose Welsh borderland troops had loyally assisted in the campaign but had not been required to perform any prodigies of valour.
