Siege of Exeter (1642)

Royalist commander in the west, Sir Ralph Hopton

When the war began in August 1642, Parliamentary forces secured most of southern England, including the ports of Southampton and Dover, as well as the bulk of the Royal Navy. After capturing Portsmouth in September, they controlled every major port from Plymouth to Hull, hampering Royalist efforts to import arms and men from Europe.[1]

By the end of September, most of Devon was held by Parliament, while Royalists under Sir Ralph Hopton secured Cornwall. In the early stages of the war, most soldiers on both sides were poorly trained and equipped militia. An exception was Plymouth, where the garrison was commanded by Colonel William Ruthven, and a contingent of experienced Scots mercenaries; their ship stopped to pick up supplies returning from Ireland in early October, and the Parliamentary town council hired them to defend the city.[2]

Ruthven easily repulsed attempts to take Plymouth, and in early November Hopton crossed the River Tamar, heading for Exeter, although his troops refused to leave Cornwall until paid in advance. Royalist sympathisers told him it was largely undefended, although the town itself was controlled by supporters of Parliament.[3] Its capture meant control of a vital port on the southern coast, an important export point for Devon wool, and whose position on the River Exe gave access to internal waterways, vital for transporting bulk supplies. It would also provide a base for Royalist privateers.

By the time Hopton arrived at Exeter on 18 November, it had been occupied by a small force of Parliamentary cavalry under Captain Alexander Pym. After a brief exchange of artillery fire, the Royalists retreated to Tavistock, and made another attempt on Plymouth.[4]

BraddockDown

Exeter

Bridestowe

Wells

Barnstaple

Sherborne

Launceston

Roundway Down

Minehead

Torrington

Stratton

Plymouth

Langport

Truro

Western England, 1642 to 1646

Once again assured of local support, on 24 December Hopton attacked Exeter again, this time capturing Topsham and Powderham to the south, in order to prevent supplies being shipped in via the River Exe. Anticipating this, Colonel Ruthven had already brought in reinforcements from Plymouth, and repulsed a Royalist assault on 1 January.

Short of supplies, and with his troops threatening to mutiny, Hopton was forced to retreat into Cornwall. Ruthven pursued him, hoping to capture the Royalist artillery, but was halted by a successful rearguard action at Bridestowe.[5]

Royalist victories at Braddock Down in January, then Stratton in April, destroyed the Parliamentary field army in Cornwall and Devon. This was followed by Roundway Down, on 13 July, arguably their most comprehensive victory of the war. On 26 July, Prince Rupert stormed Bristol, gaining the second largest city in Britain.[6]

This secured Royalist control of the West Country, with the exception of isolated ports like Exeter, which was captured in September 1643; they held it until April 1646.