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Ok this is my first timeline so please be nice, though constructive critisism is welcome :D

So without further adue here you go

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CHAPTER 1

Edgehill

23rd October, 1642

The Earl of Essex gazed up to the top of the rise where the Royalist forces of King Charles stood ready. Essex was beginning to grow worried having just been called away from mass. To find that only a fraction of his army was ready to be positioned on the battle field. To make matters worse he was greatly out numbered by the Royalist Cavalry which was under none other than Prince Rupert’s command, who had just recently routed his cavalry vanguard at Powick Bridge. He had little hope of dislodging them from the hill and ordered his men to hold their ground.

As the sun reached its high point the Royalists final took the hint and began to descend the hill. As the Royalists halted at the foot of the hill, Essex looked stunned as the King himself road with his vanguard to each unit to show encouragement. Essex began to hear shouts of anger, and turned in time to see his battery of cannon open up on the entourage. The King quickly withdrew as the Royalist artillery began to counter his own. The battle had begun. Essex sent order to hold fast and prepare for an assault.

After noticing that the artillery duel was going nowhere the Royalists began their advance. Prince Rupert and his counter part, Sir Wilmot, on the opposite flank hurled their forces at Essex’ flanks. To the Earl’s horror his cavalry sent to dispatch Rupert fired a single round and fled the battle field. A runner reported that part of the brigade had defected and the rest run off as a result. Essex looked to his right to check his other flank to see little better as his infantry was simply over run, luck seemed to be on his side though as his men broke and ran on his flank Wilmot gave chase to them, toward Kineton at his rear. Unfortunately for him though as he looked back left hoping that Rupert, lacking discipline, would do the same he saw him racing up his flank rather than giving chase to his broken cavalry. Essex quickly ordered his reserve cavalry to counter charge, but it was too little to late his left flank was shattered, and his right faired little better. Even now his center was breaking from the Royalist assault.

He had no choice but to order a retreat, but this order would have devastating results on his army’s morale. As his troops began to pull out of their fight they saw the devastation wreaked on their flanks as well as Prince Rupert gaining the upper hand on their last cavalry brigade, that was supposed to cover their retreat. Panic overtook the army, and what was supposed to be a fighting retreat turned into a complete route

As Essex and his defeated army retreated back to London they were vigorously pursued by the King’s army, by the recommendation of Prince Rupert, until finally on November 1st Essex was pinned down just north of London at St. Albans. There the Earl of Essex’ army was finally crushed and King Charles sat triumphant outside of London. Parliament had little options left, they had trained seven new regiments of Trained Bands to reinforce Essex and defend London, but with Essex now subdued, the army of poorly trained commoners seemed to be unable to meat the task.

On the Morning of November 8th a Herald arrived in the Parliament camp, stating the Kings demands were simple. Parliament would disband its army, and pledge their loyalty to the King, the King would, as promised to the people, uphold the Parliament. Parliamentary forces agreed, at noon that day Parliament lowered their standard and the King triumphantly returned to his throne in London, and it was true he would uphold the Parliament, but that was not to say he would not severely limit it.
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