Philip Skippon, commander of the Tower Hamlet Trayned bands marched his force south west and on a steep incline he met a lowly Captain under the command of prince Rupert of the Royalist army.
Lining the ridge were some of the finest men in the Royalist force, the men of Rupert's regiment of foote.
Opposing them at the foot of the hill were the well trained Bands of London commanded by the popular Philip Skippon.
With caution Skippon pushed forward knowing that his force was no greater than that of the Royalists.
Sir John Meldrum's dragoons lined the flanks.
Royalist musketeers opened the engagement with a volley of fire as cavalry skirmished down the hill.
Royalist pikes lay out of harms way behind the edge of the hill.
Skippon's militia returned fire.
Royalist cavalry lay in wait. Impetuous and ready to charge.
Straight into the flanks of the Parliamentarian pikes they went.
Upwards and onwards they did march.
Rupert's men braced ready to repell and attack.
The Royalist lifeguard became stuck upon advancing pikes.
A company of muskets struck upon the rear of some pikes.
This cuirassiers was saved only by the sharp thurst of a pike.
There was little use made of the muzzle end of the musket in this engagement.
Meldrum's dragoons became entangled with Rupert's musketeers.
Against the heavier, more numerical musketeers the dragoons were doomed.
Parliamentarian pikemen, supported by heavy cuirassiers continued the fight for the hill, slaughtering the remaining Royalists.
The hill top was Royalist no more.
A retreating unit of pikes turned back up the hill to give their last.
They didn't last long.
A bloody day for both sides.
The pike proved it's worth.
Cheers