Siege of Gloucester

After the capture of Bristol by the Royalists in July 1643, Prince Maurice and Lord Carnarvon were sent to attack remaining Parliamentarian towns in the south-west. In August 1643, the King took the main Oxford army to besiege Gloucester. The city was the only major Parliamentarian stronghold between Bristol and Lancashire; its capture would secure the routes into England from the Royalist recruiting grounds in Wales.

King Charles expected Gloucester to surrender when he summoned the city on 10 August but the governor, Colonel Massey, was defiant. Although Massey had only 1,500 regular troops under his command, many citizens joined the soldiers in working to strengthen Gloucester's ancient Roman walls and medieval castle. Prince Rupert realised that the city's defences were barely adequate and recommended taking it by storm. King Charles, however, preferred to avoid a repetition of the heavy casualties sustained at the storming of Bristol so ordered a formal siege, which was directed by the Earl of Forth. Artillery opened fire on the walls of Gloucester while entrenchments were constructed and sappers began building a mine under the east gate. Siege engines were built to provide cover for musketeers in preparation for an attack when a significant breach had been made. However, the Royalist plans suffered a setback when heavy rain flooded the mine before it could be fired. Massey conducted a vigorous defence, mounting several successful counter-attacks and encouraging the defenders with reassurances that help would soon be on its way.

News of the siege had a galvanising effect on London, where the mood had grown gloomy from so many Royalist successes around the country during the summer of 1643. Inspired by the resolution of Colonel Massey and the defenders of Gloucester, Londoners flocked to the colours. Three new regiments of foot and one of horse were raised to march with the London Trained Bands to the relief of Gloucester. Commanded by the Earl of Essex, the London regiments marched from Uxbridge on 26 August. Essex took a northerly route around Oxford via Brackley, Stow-on-the-Wold and Cheltenham. After fending off harassing cavalry attacks by Lord Wilmot and Prince Rupert, Essex reached Prestbury Hill, ten miles from Gloucester, on 5 September. King Charles broke up the siege and withdrew rather than risk becoming trapped between Essex's army and the Gloucester garrison. The London regiments occupied Gloucester on 8 September. They had arrived in the nick of time — Massey's garrison was down to its last three barrels of gunpowder.