The King gained intelligence that his supporters in Ipswich were ready to strike but considering that he had no means of supporting them he sent secret messages to the local leaders not to strike but to wait for a more favourable moment. He also received affirmations of support from the North-East that the area was solidly in support of the King's cause.
The King moved his army from Nottingham to Shrewsbury, arresting Parliamentary notables from Derby and installing his own supporters instead. Hopton, based around Bridgewater, conducted intensive training to improve the quality of his cavalry troopers. Derby advanced from Preston to secure Liverpool for the King.
The Earl of Essex detached a force of 3000 men under Foppingham to lay siege to Byron in Oxford, whilst training some of his troops. Bedford moved his small army to attack Hopton near Bridgewater, but was forced to withdraw back to Wells after a sanguinary drawn fight in the area of Latcham, which cost the Royalists about 1100 men and the Parliamentarians about twice that.. Fernando Fairfax occupied the Bolton Castle area. Waller continued the siege of Portsmouth, with some success.
The North:
 | ||
3000 in Newcastle, 1000 in York, Derby with 1000 in Liverpool
Parliamentarians:
1000 in Hull, 1000 in Manchester, F. Fairfax in Bolton Castle with 5000
The Midlands:
 | |
| Royalists: 1000 in Newark, Charles with c.16000 in Shrewsbury, Byron in Oxford with 1000; Parliamn |
Royalists:
1000 in Newark
Charles with c.16000 in Shrewsbury
Byron in Oxford with 1000
Parliamentarians:
Foppingham with 3000 besieging Oxford
Essex with c.12000 in Northampton
1000 in Bristol
Royalists:
Hopton with 3000 in Bridgewater
Goring with a token force in Portsmouth
Parliamentarians:
Waller with 3000 besieging Portsmouth
Bedford with 4000 in Wells
1000 in London
Notes:
On balance, this month felt like a very marginal advantage to Parliament: good progress in the sieges of Portsmouth and Oxford balancing out the loss of Liverpool and the failure to do more damage to Hopton in Somerset.
Although this is my second attempt at this campaign, and I have also played the boardgame in its own right, I feel myself treading quite gingerly here, since I don't think I have a good understanding of the best strategies and tactics of this game yet.
Any comments about strategies gratefully received!
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