November 12, 1642
November 12, 1642
The story as it unfolds:

THE SACK OF BRENTFORD BY THE ARMY OF KING CHARLES, AT THE COMMAND OF PRINCE RUPERT OF THE RHINE

From the section: Histories

Late morning on the Great North Road, man and horse shrouded in a thick swirling mist. Ahead, scouts reported, was the house of Sir Richard Wynn; beyond that, Brentford.

Rupert ordered one of his regiments forward.

Sir Philip Clucas swigged from a bottle, passed it to Firth. Firth, wrinkling his nose in disgust, offered it to Rupert. Rupert -- bright-eyed, gloved finger drumming the hilt of his sword, his boots twitching in their stirrups -- ignored it. Prince Maurice took it and drank.

The mist closed around the advancing troopers; the sound of them faded too. Rupert smiled. It was an ugly smile. Sir Philip burped. Rupert had last night "liberated" all wine, ale and beer from the King's army and the surrounding countryside. He distributed it this morning to his men. He meant, he explained to Firth, to "their tastes wet" and "them ferocious for more make."

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From the section: Histories

The Foot cleared the Redcoats of Colonel Denzil Holles from Wynn's house. Then, supported by Rupert's horse, the army of King Charles assaulted Brentford.

They destroyed the Parliamentarian barricade at the bridge on the River Brent. They drove the Redcoats to a barricade of wagons and fenceposts held by the regiment of Lord Brooke and two field guns.

Within two hours that position collapsed. The Parliamentarians fled through Brentford, abandoning arms and armor. Some, in their terror, dove into the Thames.

The King’s advance was checked on east of Brentford by Colonel John Hampden, whose Greencoats charged five times to cover the retreat of what remained of the regiments of Holles and Brooke.

The sun descended into the west. Rupert halted the attack. He gathered his men around around a bonfire of burning wagons.

"And now," he said, standing in his stirrups. "And now, to the delight of good soldiers!"

The troopers roared.

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