First amongst these is the matter of Greysby Glen. The order that allowed SIr Wallace Campbell to exercise his hatred for rival clan leaders had resulted in him marching into Greysby Glen, arresting and in a couple of cases shooting rival clansmen. His younger compatriot,William Barrett could not control the bombastic clan lord as he exercised the authority to "supress the glens".
Greysby Glen at peace
However, Connal Murray, having raised a small troop of lancers had used his local knowledge to evaded capture and eventually join with the approaching Wendlemore forces under Owen Kentigern. Kentigern deferred to Murray who took command and immediately made a forced march to Greysby Glen, bottling Campbell and Barrett with the Chelby 1st Foot and Greysby 1st Horse within. Turning to break out of this trap, Campbell drew battle lines beside Lakemere Woods where a lone crofter's cottage overlooked the field. A wide valley floor, here provided a good base to extend a defensive line.
Greysby from Lakesmere Wood
Battle lines are drawn
As they began their advance to charge, Campbell could hear the cries from the Highland regiment "Nae ye'll face the clansmen and ye'll ken..good reason to remember Greysby Glen".
Murray's Lancers Advance
Greysby Glen, which will be covered in the next entry or thereabouts was not the only consequence of turn1.1.
News soon travels, especially in the time when printing is allowing people to write and circulate handbills, papers and books in increasing quantities. If what was being claimed was correct, the House of the People's army had also taken Candleridge as well as sending the avenging force into the Glens after Campbell. Meanwhile, the Presidential Party had marched troops on St Martins and Penfield. St Martins would be no surprise, following Langley's arrest of eleven members of the House who had been considered extreme in their views. Preacher John Cobb, an advocate of the people's power had his power base at St Martins and some said he would go as far as raising his own force. A man who had spoken against both sides, his loyalties were in question. When Sir Ralph Hopton arrived in St Martins with his Warboys Foot, he found himself and his men abused verbally by John's son, Charles Cobb who called them "bloody men" and "war mongers who would fence in the people and hand their rights to the old royalists", a reference to Langley's support for enclosure of property. Hopton determined not to allow St Martins to become a hotbed of resistance decided to sit down, there, temporarily and to seek after John Cobb's whereabouts. The bad welcome and continuing resistance of the people was not making it comfortable and when his horse arrived, they were subjected to pelting with muck by some high spirited (and swiftly dispersed) young peasant men and women. Hopton kept his temper for the moment.
Warboys 1st Foot in their powder green coats
Langley had marched to Penfield in the hope of seizing the castle, there but was unsure of the welcome he would receive from either the Devereuxs or Wolfdens. Devereux was a former Royalist. Wolfden's father, Sir Hugh had ridden with Langley.
The result was a split. Devereux took the castle guard and his men along with at least half the villagers and shut up the castle behind them, defying the resources to Langley. However, Sir Miles Wolfden rode to meet Sir Charles and promised he could secure a light horse unit as his father had done, if that was of interest. Penfield was going to be difficult to secure, however.
More soon on how the first set of orders play out....
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