Editing Battle of Roundway Down (section)

==Battle==
[[File:Access land west of the Mid Wilts Way near Heddington - geograph.org.uk - 1535578.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|The view from the scarp known as <br /> 'Oliver's Castle' into the 'Bloody Ditch']]

The Royalist cavalry was divided into three brigades; as well as being in overall command, Wilmot led the brigade on the left, with [[John Byron, 1st Baron Byron|Sir John Byron]] on the right, and the [[Ludovic Lindsay, 16th Earl of Crawford|Earl of Crawford]] in reserve.{{sfn|Young|1953|p=127}}{{sfnp|English Heritage Battlefield Report: Roundway Down 1643|1995|p=6}} Despite having ridden all night, Wilmot attacked immediately and caught Waller out of position, with Haselrig and his regiment of "[[London lobsters]]" in an exposed forward position. Haselrig tried to rally his men but withdrew when he saw Byron preparing to attack, and rejoined the rest of Waller's cavalry.{{sfn|Young|1953|p=127}}

As Waller advanced down the hill, Byron continued his attack supported by Wilmot and the Royalist reserve under Crawford; with their infantry unable to fire for fear of hitting their own men, the Parliamentarian cavalry were swept from the field. Pursued by the Royalists, some of them rode over the edge of a {{convert|300|ft|m}} steep precipice and into an area that became known as "the Bloody Ditch".{{sfnp|The Battle of Roundway Down, Devizes July 13th, 1643}}{{sfnp|English Heritage Battlefield Report: Roundway Down 1643|1995|pp=6–7}}<ref name="devizesheritage">{{cite web |title=The Battle of Roundway Down, Devizes July 13th, 1643 |url=http://www.devizesheritage.org.uk/battle_of_roundway.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228224818/http://www.devizesheritage.org.uk/battle_of_roundway.html |archive-date=28 February 2012 |access-date=21 June 2024 |publisher=Devizes Heritage}}</ref>

Now isolated and with 3,000 Royalists from Devizes advancing against their rear, Waller ordered his infantry into defensive squares and began withdrawing towards the northwest. After approximately an hour, Byron’s cavalry returned from their pursuit and captured the Parliamentarian artillery which they turned on the retreating enemy, quickly causing them to break apart. Fleeing in all directions, many were cut down by Wilmot's men; Waller and the remnants of his cavalry escaped toward Bristol, leaving the remainder to surrender.{{sfnp|The Battle of Roundway Down, Devizes July 13th, 1643}}{{sfnp|English Heritage Battlefield Report: Roundway Down 1643|1995|pp=7–8}}