As we hinted in our report on Saturday’s re-enactment of the 1642 Civil War siege of Marlborough, day two (Sunday, July 27) did indeed see the Royalists defeat the Parliamentarian defenders of the town.
But, when the King’s men had won the day, none of his army’s soldiers rampaged down Kingsbury Street, no houses were set alight and the bookseller’s shop was not ransacked and his books were not burned. You could have too much accuracy in your living history.
The crowds were just as large for day two, and though still warm, the sun was not quite so blisteringly hot for the re-enactors dressed in their thick uniforms and leather boots.
The display began with a general salute and a minute’s silence to honour Robert Hill who died recently and whose company, Hills, was one of the sponsors of the event.
This day’s battle saw much more movement in the fighting, some much closer combat in front of the spectators and more ‘bodies’ left on the field. There was even a summary execution of two prisoners from the Parliamentary forces – just to remind us that we now have ‘rules of war’.
The pikemen’s to and fro as their pikes moved in unison could well have won gold in some new gymnastic category at the Glasgow games.
The cavalry played a greater part in the battle and this time we even had a Royalist priest giving last rites to the ‘fallen’.
It was certainly louder than Saturday’s battle – perhaps they had been conserving their powder during the first part of the battle. And the musketeers were firing together producing a sound and fury that was much more vivid – and ear-splitting.
Judging by the reaction of the crowds where standing near your reporter, the spectacle was just as enjoyable. The English Civil War Society certainly how to pout on a great fight – and give crowds an insight into history.
